On Saturday, Juventus will look for a fourth straight league victory when they go to second-placed Lazio in Rome.
Team Form
Lazio
Lazio has been one of the most formidable teams in Serie A this season, boasting the best defensive record in Italy. They have kept the cleanest sheets (17) and conceded the fewest goals (19) in the league.
However, their recent 3-0 defeat in Turin will have undoubtedly been a tough pill for Maurizio Sarri’s men, and they will be keen to seek redemption this weekend.
In their previous game against Monza, Lazio secured a 2-0 victory with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic wearing the captain’s armband. The midfielder scored the match’s second goal with a magnificent free-kick, showcasing his immense talent.
Lazio’s win over arch-rivals Roma in last month’s Derby della Capitale took them clear of both Milan clubs in the standings, but their loss to AZ Alkmaar means they are the only Italian team to have been eliminated from European competition so far.
Lazio Serie A Form: W W D W W
Juventus
In the highly anticipated Derby d’Italia matches between Juventus and Inter, the former seemed on course for a third win of the season, but events towards the end of the game left a sour taste in the mouth.
Inter’s Romelu Lukaku was subjected to racist abuse, which understandably led to him being sent off for shouting at the home fans. However, things worsened as Juventus’ Juan Cuadrado and Inter captain Samir Handanovic were dismissed following an altercation after the final whistle.
The fallout from these incidents even spilled over into scuffles inside the Allianz Stadium tunnel, leaving a scar on relations between the two giants of Calcio.
Despite Juventus’ recent success on the field, they were severely hampered by a 15-point penalty imposed at the start of the year. However, their third consecutive league win over Verona last weekend, thanks to Moise Kean’s second-half strike, keeps them in contention for a spot in the division’s top six.
Juventus Serie A Form: W L W W W
Squad Report
Lazio
The team welcomed back Ciro Immobile from injury, which is a significant boost to their attack.
Adam Marusic will be available for selection after serving a suspension. The full-back should slot straight into the starting lineup, providing Lazio with some much-needed depth in defense.
Juventus
Moise Kean’s recent return to the Juventus squad has been short-lived, as he is once again suspended following his recent red card against Roma.
Meanwhile, Paul Pogba and Captain Leonardo Bonucci are inching closer to making their comebacks. Both players have joined team training this week, and they are not yet fully match-fit.
Juan Cuadrado will be available for the match as his impending suspension only applies to the Coppa Italia.Ā
Lazio’s expected starting lineup:
Provedel; Hysaj, Casale, Romagnoli, Marusic; Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi, Alberto; Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni
Juventus’ expected starting lineup:
Szczesny; Danilo, Bremer, Sandro; Cuadrado, Fagioli, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Di Maria; Vlahovic
Head to Head
Juventus has a strong track record against Lazio in recent years, having won 32 out of the last 59 matches played between the two teams. This contrasts Lazio’s 13 victories over Juventus in the same period.
Time, Date & Venue
Date: Saturday, April 08
Time: 06:45 pm, UTC
Venue: Stadio Olimpico Stadium, Rome
Prediction
When Juventus and Lazio face-off, both teams typically set up strongly emphasizing defense.
Juventus often prefer a conservative approach, focusing on avoiding conceding goals and then hitting on the counter-attack.
On the other hand, Lazio has been particularly effective in keeping their opponents at bay this season, boasting the best defensive record in the league.
