Sports Mole previews Monday’s Serie A clash between Lazio and Cagliari, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
After posting seven wins from eight games in all competitions, Lazio aim to continue in that vein on Monday, when they welcome Cagliari to Stadio Olimpico.
While the Biancocelesti are riding high in the Serie A standings, their Sardinian counterparts have won just twice in the league this season.
Match preview
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Lazio finished a highly productive October with victory on Halloween, as the capital club continue to thrive on two fronts – in Serie A and the Europa League.
Topping the league-phase table in the latter competition, with three wins from three so far, Marco Baroni‘s men are also putting pressure on Italy’s top six following a superb run of domestic results.
Taty Castellanos scored twice and veteran forward Pedro found the net again, as the Biancolcelesti brushed aside Como last time out, ultimately cruising to a 5-1 win at Stadio Olimpico.
In their last eight matches, they have lost just once and won the others, averaging 2.75 goals per game, which has fully vindicated the board’s much criticised decision to hand Baroni the reins.
Stretching back to last season, Lazio are unbeaten in 10 Serie A fixtures, winning each of the last three before Cagliari rock up at the Olimpico.
Having won 11 of the club’s last 12 meetings in Rome, scoring 27 times in the process, both current form and precedent will be on their side.
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In fact, home or away, Cagliari are winless across 18 league matches against Lazio since May 2013, so expectations will be suitably low on Monday evening.
By contrast with their in-form hosts, the Rossoblu have failed to score in six of their first 10 fixtures this season, which equals their worst such tally in Serie A for some 34 years.
Having previously picked up seven points from three games to improve their lowly status, Cagliari finished October in dismal style.
Last week, Davide Nicola‘s side slumped to a 2-0 home defeat against Bologna, just days after losing by the same scoreline to Udinese, causing them to slip further down the table.
Before meeting Juventus in the Coppa Italia’s last 16 next month, they must try to turn things around in the league, despite being dealt a tough run of fixtures: after tackling Lazio, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Atalanta BC soon await.
Lazio Serie A form:
Lazio form (all competitions):
Cagliari Serie A form:
Cagliari form (all competitions):
Team News
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Marco Baroni can welcome back key midfielder Nicolo Rovella, who has made a swift recovery from the muscular problem that forced him to sit out Thursday’s win over Como.
Patric and Matteo Guendouzi are minor doubts, though, while Lazio captain Mattia Zaccagni is still touch-and-go after suffering from severe gastroenteritis and missing two matches.
With a Europa League clash against Porto coming up, Baroni may consider resting star striker Taty Castellanos and bringing in Boulaye Dia, who has been directly involved in five Serie A goals this season and bagged a brace in his only previous league game against Cagliari.
Meanwhile, Cagliari will have Antoine Makoumbou back from suspension, and he could slot straight into the visitors’ midfield at Stadio Olimpico.
After dropping Zito Luvumbo to the bench of late, Davide Nicola may pair Roberto Piccoli with support striker Nicolas Viola.
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Rovella, Guendouzi; Tchaouna, Pedro, Noslin; Castellanos
Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Scuffet; Zappa, Mina, Luperto, Obert; Zortea, Marin, Makoumbou, Augello; Viola; Piccoli
We say: Lazio 2-0 Cagliari
In their present form, Lazio should ease past a toothless Cagliari side on home turf, where they are particularly tough to beat.
The hosts have several attacking weapons to call upon, whereas their visitors average under a goal per game.
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