The next stop in Lazio’s journey to a Champions League spot is the Stadio Alberto Picco where the Biancocelesti are set to face Spezia tonight.
Maurizio Sarri’s side are the hottest team in Serie A right now as they won six of their last seven league games, including a 2-1 over Juventus last weekend.
Lazio currently sit in second place with seven points over the fifth place and they have the best defense as they have only conceded 20 goals, one less than Serie A leaders Napoli.
Everything points in the direction of a win for Lazio tonight but Spezia are not an opponent to underestimate.
Under coach Leonardo Semplici, they are unbeaten in their last three Serie A home games and this streak includes a surprising and fundamental 2-1 win over Inter.
They are out of the relegation zone and there is a four point gap and with a win tonight they could make a significant step forward as Verona, third to last, are set to play away at Napoli this weekend.
Results from their last five matches in all competitions:
Spezia
D D D L W
Lazio
W W W L D
Team News
Lazio will miss Uruguayan midfielder Matias Vecino, who is out due to a knee problem. This injury resolves the only big doubt in the line-up with Danilo Cataldi starting in midfield alongside Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto.
Maurizio Sarri, during yesterday’s press conference, stated that Ciro Immobile is getting better after his injury but he’s still not 100% fit.
Nevertheless, he’s supposed to start the game alongside Felipe Anderson and Mattia Zaccagni, with the latter being the only Italian player to have scored 10 goals in Serie A this season.
Spezia too have to face a couple of injury worries. Szymon Zurkowski will miss the game due to a muscle strain in his left adductor while Emil Holm is likely to be sidelined for the rest of the season due to a groin issue.
Simone Bastoni is out suspended but the good news is that Kevin Agudelo and Mattia Caldara are back in the squad.
There are no doubts about M’Bala Nzola who is fit and ready and is the first Spezia player to be involved in 15 goals in a single Serie A season.
Predicted XIs
Spezia (4-3-3): Dragowski; Amian, Ampadu, Nikolaou, Reca; Bourabia, Ekdal, Esposito; Verde, Nzola, Gyasi.
Lazio (4-3-3): Provedel; Hysaj, Casale, Romagnoli, Marusic; Milinkovic, Cataldi, Luis Alberto; Felipe Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni.
Andrea Agostinelli I GIFN
