Lazio-Cremonese is a Serie A Week 37 match to be played on Sunday at 18:00: odds, predictions, TV and streaming
In a Serie A that has to reckon with the verdicts of sporting justice until the very end – we are obviously referring to the penalty inflicted on Juventus, first suspended and then reinstated, albeit in a reduced form – Lazio rejoiced “from home” for qualification to the next Champions League, which became mathematical following the Bianconeri’s defeat on Monday at Empoli.
With two days to spare, then, Maurizio Sarri’s team has achieved what was one of its main objectives: to return to play the most important event in Europe. And little does it matter if, in order to achieve this, the Biancocelesti, not having a very long squad at their disposal, had to dose their energies, neglecting any competition other than the championship. With 180 minutes to go, the Capitolini have 68 points and can no longer be reached by either Roma – defeated by Fiorentina in the early game – or Atalanta, who have 61 points. Lazio now only have to duel with Inter for the purely symbolic second place. The stamp on the decisive victory was put on it – and who if not him – by Ciro Immobile. A goal (on a penalty kick) from the Torre Annunziata-born scorer was enough to beat Udinese on Sunday and give the Biancocelesti their 20th victory, as well as their 10th away from the Olimpico.
Cremonese are mathematically relegated
Lazio face two teams who, like themselves, have nothing more to ask of the league: Cremonese and Empoli.
Ciofani
The grigiorossi tried until the very end but they couldn’t avoid relegation to the cadetteria. Only one year lasted the ‘dance’ of the Lombardy formation, which last season had returned to the top division after more than two decades. In the match that could have kept them alive, Cremonese were outclassed by Bologna, who did the best and the worst at the ‘Zini’ stadium, overwhelming Davide Ballardini’s men 5-1. A performance that was tantamount to surrender: Okereke and his team-mates had returned to believing thanks to the success of a fortnight ago against Spezia, but it was only a mere illusion. Cremonese are paying for the disastrous first part of the season. One wonders where it could have gone had it relied on a pragmatic coach like Ballardini earlier.
Lazio-Cremonese: the latest line-up news
Sarri will have to do without Marusic and Cataldi: the former’s season is over, while the latter will perhaps return in time for the final day. Also in doubt is Brazilian Marcos Antonio, who is struggling with an ankle problem. For the rest, the Tuscan coach should line up the typical formation: Lazzari on the right flank is favoured over Pellegrini, in the trident instead Felipe Anderson will get the better of Pedro.
On the other side, Ballardini is without Chiriches, Benassi and Dessers. The Grigiorossi coach plans to reintroduce the four-man defence, with Vasquez and Lochoshvili in the centre. Galdames will be the link between the midfield and the attack, formed by Okereke and Tsadjout.
The prediction
Lazio beat Cremonese 4-0 in the first leg and could score a large number of goals this time around against a team with no motivation and the second best defence in the league. The Biancocelesti are likely to record yet another clean sheet this season: it would be their 21st.
Lazio v Cremonese (Lazio v Cremonese): the likely line-up
- LAZIO (4-3-3): Provedel; Lazzari, Casale, Romagnoli, Hysaj; Milinkovic-Savic, Vecino, Luis Alberto; Felipe Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni.
- CREMONESE (4-3-1-2): Carnesecchi; Sernicola, Lochoshvili, Vasquez, Valeri; Pickel, Castagnetti, Meité; Galdames; Tsadjout, Okereke.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-0
