Salernitana-Lazio is a Serie A Week 23 match played on Sunday at 15:00: odds, predictions, TV and streaming
The fourth defeat in five matches and the salvation quota that has risen again have required drastic decisions at home to Salernitana. On Monday, the granata also capitulated in the away match in Verona, allowing the third-last-place Scaligeri to go to -4 and completely reopen the games as far as the fight for permanence in the top division is concerned. So, Davide Nicola is gone – this time he has been exonerated for real, after his turnaround a few weeks ago – and Paulo Sousa is in.
For the Portuguese coach, who has been out of action for a few years, it is a return to Serie A, having coached Fiorentina from 2015 to 2017. In the Tuscan experience, the former Juventus and Borussia Dortmund midfielder did not disfigure at all: in his first season on the purple bench he made an excellent start, touching the (purely symbolic) title of winter champion. In any case, this is a coach who comes from some disappointing adventures (Polish national team, Flamengo) and who has an almost opposite philosophy to his predecessor, decidedly more offensive. He will have the task of bringing to safety a Salernitana that, after an excellent first part of the season, has only been able to win one match in the last ten days and is once again at risk.
The return of Paulo Sousa
He will certainly have to put his hand to an attack that seems to have jammed, with only two goals scored in the matches against Napoli, Lecce, Juventus and Verona. It is also due to this shortage of goals that the Campania side have only picked up five points since the start of November, doing worse than last-placed Cremonese.
Milinkovic-Savic
Salernitana will have to reckon with Lazio’s desire for revenge, who lost in sensational fashion (1-3) at the Olimpico against the granata in the first leg. The Biancocelesti arrive in Campania after returning to winning ways in the Conference League, thanks to a 1-0 victory over the Romanians from Cluj on Thursday, who were brought down by a goal from the restored Ciro Immobile. The captain, now recovered from a lengthy injury, is ready to shake up a team that seems to have stalled at the very heart of the game, following the resounding victory over AC Milan. The Capitolini remain unpredictable in any case, especially after their cup commitments. Three games without a win in the league for Sarri’s men, now sixth in the table.
Salernitana-Lazio: latest line-up news
Sousa is expected to opt for a 4-4-2 for his debut on the Granata bench, with Bonazzoli-Piatek in attack and Candreva and Vilhena on either flank. In the middle, Coulibaly and Bohinen are favoured over Nicolussi Caviglia and Crnigoj, both starters in Cremona. The list of unavailable players is long, from Dia to Troost-Ekong. Possible call-up instead for the returning Mazzocchi, who could sit on the bench.
On the other side, Sarri will, as usual, do some rotation ahead of the return match with Cluj. Absent Romagnoli and Radu, Marusic, Patric, Casale and Hysaj should play at the back. Doubtful in midfield, where Luis Alberto and Vecino will compete for a shirt. Finally, the choice is forced in attack, where Pedro will take the place of the disqualified Zaccagni.
The Prediction
If they don’t win, Lazio risk losing further ground in the race for fourth place: a positive result from the Biancocelesti, revitalised by their success against Cluj, is highly likely, even if Sarri’s team has often given surprises after cup competitions. Better to bet on goals, which are unlikely to be missed this time around: the Capitoline attack could benefit from the fact that they will be facing the most beaten defence in Serie A, with the new coach needing time to put things right.
Salernitana-Lazio matchday squad
- SALERNITANA (4-4-2): Ochoa; Sambia, Bronn, Lovato, Bradaric; Candreva, Bohinen, Coulibaly, Vilhena; Bonazzoli, Piatek.
- LAZIO (4-3-3): Provedel; Marusic, Patric, Casale, Hysaj; Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi, Luis Alberto; Felipe Anderson, Immobile, Pedro.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
