Verdict: Lazio win
Best Odds: 19/10
Bookmaker: Bet365
Enduring a torrid start to the new Serie A campaign, Roma are desperately looking for an immediate bounce back when they meet their cross-town rivals at their shared home on Saturday afternoon.
Roma
Starting with technically the hosts, while Roma may have done a very impressive job of reaching the semi-finals of last years Champions League, it has been a very tough start for Eusebio Di Francesco’s men. While they might be coming off an expected 4-0 win over newly promoted strugglers Frosinone in midweek, Giallorossi have failed to win any of their other six matches in all competitions, including a 3-0 drumming by Real Madrid in their European opener. Collecting just eight out of a possible 18 points, the hosts currently find themselves sat 10th in the table. It will be their defensive issues at the start of the season that will be the biggest concern for Di Francesco. In their six-match winless run at the start of the new season, Roma conceded two or more goals in each of those matchups. They have also now managed to win just one of their last six appearances at the Stadio Olimpico.
Team News
After being rested in midweek, striker Edin Dzeko and Alessandro Florenzi are set to return to Roma’s XI on Saturday.
However, 30-year-old winger Diego Perotti is ruled out.
Lazio
As for Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio side, although only their goal difference saw them miss out on Champions League football last season, it has been a bright start for The White and Sky Blues. Coming off the back of a 2-1 win away at Udinese in midweek, Saturday’s visitors have now won their last five matches on the bounce. Also getting their Europa League campaign off to winning start spirits are certainly high around their camp. One man to watch for Lazio will be last years top scorer Ciro Immobile. The 28-year-old former Borussia Dortmund striker now has three in his last three across all competitions. While they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last three matches, their goalscoring form will be impressive Inzaghi. In fact, Lazio have now scored eight in their last three and have been on target in each of their last nine matches at the Stadio Olimpico.
Team News
Simone Inzaghi has now new injury concerns and looks likely to name the same XI.
Key Factors to Consider
- Roma have now managed to win just one of their last seven matches in all competitions (L4, D2).
- Lazio have now won their last five matches on the bounce, scoring eight in their last three.
- The hosts have conceded two or more goals in six of their last seven.
- Eusebio Di Francesco’s men have won just won of their last six matches on home soil, a run the stems back to May.
- Over 2.5 has also landed in the last three meetings between these two with Lazio as the away side.
Conclusion
On paper, it really is a battle of two sides enduring very different runs of form. With Roma only managing to win one of their last seven matches on home soil, Lazio have been far more successful at the Stadio Olimpico as of late. Winning their last three home matches on the bounce and now on a five-match winning run, we’re back Simone Inzaghi’s men to come away with the win on Saturday.
Verdict: Lazio win
Best Odds: 19/10
Bookmaker: Bet365
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