LAZIO – SPEZIA | Sunday 12:30pm
Lazio have no intention of getting off the ‘rollercoaster’ ride as they resume from their momentary fourth place in the standings after the first break, paired with Italian champions AC Milan. In the league, the Biancocelesti have so far done better than many other big names – we are referring to Inter, Juventus and Roma – and are only three points behind the leading duo of Napoli and Atalanta. Yet Maurizio Sarri’s team’s start to the season continues to be characterised by a worrying instability and above all a lack of continuity. The two away draws against Torino and Sampdoria, the internal slip-up against Luciano Spalletti’s Azzurri, not to mention the inexplicable collapse in the second match of the Europa League group stage against Midtjylland, who flooded Immobile and his teammates with goals (5-1) in Denmark.
In short, the Tuscan coach cannot yet see the glass half-full, even though his team immediately lifted their heads after the Danish debacle by bringing home their first away win. Before the break for national team commitments, Lazio overwhelmed newly-promoted Cremonese with a severe 0-4 win in which, in addition to Immobile, Milinkovic-Savic and Pedro also scored. On the return leg for the Capitolini there is another match not to be missed, this time against Luca Gotti’s Spezia. The Ligurians arrive at the Olimpico on the wings of enthusiasm after their victory – their second of the season after the one in the opener against Empoli – in the regional derby against Sampdoria, beaten 2-1 at the ‘Picco’. Gotti has eight points, all won in front of his own public. The aim now is to break through on away goals: it won’t be easy to do so in Rome against a team Spezia have always lost to in their four previous matches in the top flight.
Lazio-Spezia: latest line-up news
Nzola
Rebus Immobile for Sarri. The Lazio striker was forced to leave the national team’s training camp – with much controversy – due to an edema in his hamstring. His presence against Spezia remains uncertain and in the meantime the coach is thinking of launching Cancellieri up front, in the trident with Felipe Anderson and one of Pedro and Zaccagni. In the middle, Basic could win out over Luis Alberto, while Marcos Antonio is a candidate for a starting shirt. Duel on the right flank between Lazzari and Hysaj.
Gotti will instead present himself with the same eleven that defeated Samp a fortnight ago. In defence there is Kiwior, who also impressed Lewandowski in the national team. The only change could be the absence of Kovalenko, who was injured with Ukraine.
The Prediction
It is almost impossible to go against Lazio: the Biancocelesti at home are a judgement – they have only lost to Napoli – while Spezia have a disastrous performance away from the ‘Picco’. It is difficult to imagine a result other than a victory for them. It cannot be ruled out, however, that Spezia will manage to score their first away goal, taking advantage of the amnesia of a defence that is not always as granitic as that of the Capitoline side.
Lazio v Spezia matchday squad
- LAZIO (4-3-3): Provedel; Lazzari, Patric, Romagnoli, Marusic; Milinkovic-Savic, Marcos Antonio, Basic; Felipe Anderson, Chancellor, Zaccagni.
- SPEZIA (3-5-2): Dragowski; Ampadu, Kiwior, Nikolaou; Holm, Agudelo, Bourabia, Ellertsson, Bastoni; Gyasi, Nzola.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1
