Lazio will host Spezia this Sunday in the eighth round of the 2022/23 Serie A season.
Venue: Stadio Olimpico (Rome)
Key Statistics
Lazio have lost only one of their last six Serie A home fixtures (W4, D1).
The hosts have won their last two league games without conceding a goal.
They have scored 13 goals in the league this season. Only Udinese and Napoli (both 15) have scored more goals than they have.
After matchday seven, Spezia had scored a league-high 71% of their league goals this term before half-time.
Spezia possess the league’s worst away record as they’ve lost all three Serie A road games so far this season without scoring.
They have just one in their last ten Serie A away games (D2, L7).
Head to head
Lazio have a 100% win rate in this fixture as they have won four of the head-to-head fixtures against Spezia.
Latest performances in all competitions
Lazio: W-L-W-W-L
Spezia: W-L-D-L-D
Lazio
Lazio will look to make it three league wins in a row when they welcome lowly Spezia to Rome on Sunday.
The hosts have endured mixed results since the start of the season, but they went into the international break in strong shape after winning two consecutive league games without conceding a goal.
Maurizio Sarri’s side come into this tie sitting in fourth position, just three points behind leaders Napoli. And so, with the likes of AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus still struggling, Lazio might as well use this opportunity to build a run of games that can put them in contention for the title by the end of the season.
But having lost star striker Ciro Immobile to an injury over the international break, it remains to be seen how I Biancocelesti will cope without the Italian international.
But playing at home should cushion the blow somewhat as Lazio have only lost one of their last six league home fixtures (W4, D1) at the Stadio Olimpico, although they may prove reliant on a strong second-half showing as they needed goals after the 65th minute to secure three of those victories.
Possible Lazio starting line-up
Ivan Provedel; Elseid Hysaj, Patric, Alessio Romagnoli, Adam Marusic; Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Danilo Cataldi, Matias Vecino; Felipe Anderson, Pedro, Mattia Zaccagni.
Injured: Nicolo Casale, Manuel Lazzari
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Spezia
After five games without a win, Spezia got their second win of the season just before the international break when they defeated Sampdoria 2-1.
The win took their points tally for the season to eight points (W2, D2, L3) and leaves them sitting in 12th position.
They will travel to Rome in a confident mood as they look to build on a decent start to their third season in the top flight.
However, they might struggle to get a positive result here given that they possess the league’s worst away record as they’ve lost all three Serie A road games so far this season without scoring, though all three games came against three giants of Italian football in Juventus, Inter Milan, and Napoli.
While they will be desperate to get a point here, a run of just one win in their last ten league away games (D2, L7), would indicate that another unhappy trip to Rome awaits them here.
Possible Spezia starting line-up
Bartlomiej Dragowski, Ethan Ampadu, Jakub Kiwior, Dimitrios Nikolaou; Emil Holm, Kevin Agudelo, Mehdi Bourabia, Simone Bastoni, Salvador Ferrer; Emmanuel Gyasi, M’Bala Nzola.
Injured: Arkadiusz Reca, Viktor Kovalenko, Daniele Verde, Kelvin Amian, Daniel Maldini
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Lazio 2-0 Spezia