Lazio host Hellas Verona in Serie A on Thursday evening at a Stadio Olimpico that will see the Curva Nord closed for one of two games after racist chanting was heard in the stands against Napoli last week.
The defeat against the Partenopei was Stefano Pioli’s side’s only defeat in 2016, and they bounced back to draw with Genoa on Saturday.
The Biancocelesti have been given the opportunity to kick off the round of Serie A fixtures ahead of the return of the Europa League next week when they will visit Galatasaray.
Meanwhile, Luigi Delneri’s protestations against his Mastini side’s futility are carrying more weight as they enter the game on a five match unbeaten run, which a 3-3 draw with Inter extended on Sunday.
The Gialloblu have an abysmal record at Lazio, having only won the fixture twice, most recently in their title winning year of 1985. However, recent meetings between the two have been high scoring.
Including the Aquile’s 2-0 win last season, the last five meetings in Rome have produced 29 goals between them, a rate of almost six per game.
Lazio, meanwhile, have won 14 of the 41 meetings so far, with 11 of those victories coming in Rome.
Both sides will take a number of injuries into the encounter, with Lazio’s defence particularly badly hit.
Stefan de Vrij and Stefan Radu are both long term absentees, while Lucas Biglia and Kishna will both miss out. Marco Parolo is serving a suspension and will also be unavailable.
Miroslav Klose has 48 goals in sky blue, meaning he is just two from breaking into Lazio’s top six scorers of all time. He will probably begin on the bench, especially with Alessandro Matri back in the squad following a two game ban.
Delneri’s treatment room consists of Samuel Souprayen, Ante Rebic, Luca Siligardi and Federico Viviani, while Luca Marrone will sit out with suspension.
Luca Toni started alongside Giampaolo Pazzini on Sunday, but was unable to add to his 155 Serie A goals to date. Should he add to his tally, he would draw level with Roberto Mancini, Luigi Riva and Luis Vinicio.
Form Guide
Lazio: (D-W-D-L-D), Hellas Verona (D-D-D-W-D)
Expected Starting XIs
Lazio: Marchetti; Konko, Hoedt, Mauricio, Braafheidt; Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi, Candreva; Felipe Anderson, Keita, Lulic.
Hellas Verona: Gollini; Gilberto, Moras, Helander, Pisano; Wszolek, Greco, Ionita, Emanuelson; Toni, Pazzini.
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com