Following the international break, Lazio will welcome Juventus at Stadio Olímpico in Serie A on Saturday evening.
The Eagles enjoyed a promising campaign under Maurizio Sarri’s guidance last term, but they have struggled to replicate the same performance this season, sitting ninth in the league with 43 points from 29 games and 11 points behind the fourth-placed Bologna.
Following a string of poor performances, Sarri has decided to resign from his managerial role and Igor Tudor has been appointed as the new manager.
After four consecutive defeats in all competitions, Lazio returned to winning ways in the previous game right before the international break and it is going to be interesting to see how they perform in Tudor’s first game this weekend.
On the other hand, Juventus enjoyed a promising start to this season and were in the title race at one stage but having won only one out of the last eight league games, they have currently dropped down to third position, sitting 17 points behind the league leaders Inter Milan.
So, the international break might have come at the right stage for Juventus as they will be hoping to regain their form after the hiatus and in order to do that, they will be desperate to return to winning ways by defeating Lazio in this encounter.
Previous meetings
Juventus have been the dominant force in this fixture, losing only one out of the last nine encounters in all competitions. However, the Bianconeri haven’t been able to showcase their best at the Stadio Olímpico against Lazio, winning only one out of the last four games. They lost in this fixture last season so the visitors will be desperate to win on Saturday to rectify their record away against the Eagles.
How to watch
The game will kick off at 5 PM UK time and the match will be televised live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
Match-going fans can also buy Lazio vs Juventus tickets through the official club channels or via trusted online resellers.
Team news
Nico Rovella and Patric are doubtful due to their respective injury problems so it remains to be seen whether the duo can feature in this encounter.
Ivan Provedel is expected to be unavailable for selection in this encounter owing to an injury problem. So, Lazio could be without their first-choice goalkeeper this weekend.
For Juventus, they will be without their main goal-scorer Dusan Vlahovic as the Serbian is suspended for this encounter having picked up a red card in the previous game before the international break. In addition, Carlos Alcaraz could also miss out on this game due to an injury problem, while Arkadiusz Milik is set to remain sidelined as well due to a thigh problem.
Paul Pogba and Nicolo Fagioli aren’t in contention to feature in this encounter as while the former Manchester United star has been suspended for a few years due to doping issues, Fagioli has been suspended for several months having been found guilty of breaching the betting rules.
Predicted line-up
Tudor likes to deploy the 3-4-2-1 system but Lazio have been playing in the 4-3-3 formation in recent times. So, it remains to be seen how the Eagles set up in this encounter but it’s likely that the Croatian will go with his preferred system.
Christos Mandas should be in goal for the hosts amid Provedel’s absence and in front of the Greek, Adam Marusic, Nicolo Casale and Alessio Romagnoli could be the back three with Manuel Lazzari and Luca Pellegrini in the wing-back positions.
Luis Alberto could be paired up with Matteo Guendouzi in the engine room, while Mattia Zaccagni and Felipe Anderson are expected to be in the attacking midfield position. Valentin Castellanos should lead the line for Lazio ahead of the club captain Ciro Immobile.
Expected Lazio line-up vs Juventus
Mandas; Marusic, Casale, Romagnoli; Lazzari, Guendouzi, Alberto, Pellegrini; Zaccagni, Castellanos, Anderson
As for Juventus, Massimiliano Allegri is set to continue with his preferred 3-5-2 formation in this encounter with Wojciech Szczesny likely to continue between the sticks.
Federico Gatti could commence alongside Gleison Bremer and Danilo at the back, while Andrea Cambiaso and Filip Kostic are set to be deployed in the wing-back position.
Manuel Locatelli is expected to be at the holding midfield position and on either side of the Italian, Adrien Rabiot and Weston McKennie should start. Federico Chiesa could lead the line for the visitors along side Moise Kean amid the absence of Vlahovic and Milik.
Expected Juventus line-up vs Lazio
Szczęsny; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Cambiaso, McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Chiesa, Kean
Key players
Immobile has been the talismanic figure for Lazio over the last few years but he has struggled to showcase his best this season. Castellanos helped his side win the game by scoring a brace last time out so the hosts will be hoping that the Spaniard will be able to guide his team to victory in this encounter by putting his name on the score-sheet if he starts.
Lazio’s backline will have to be at their very best to prevent Juventus’ counter-attack and the threat during the set-piece situations.
After joining the club last summer, Mandas made his Serie A debut in the last game and conceded two goals so it is going to be interesting to see how the 22-year-old can perform in this high-voltage game this weekend.
As for Juventus, Chiesa will have to take the responsibility of scoring goals amid Vlahovic and Milik’s absence. The former Fiorentina star will be the main weapon of the visitors in constructing the counter-attacks.
The onus will be on Kostic and Cambiaso to keep the width and stretch the opposition’s backline to create gaps for the midfielders to exploit.
Juventus’ back three Gatti, Bremer and Danilo are lethal in the air and they have helped the Bianconeri earn several points by scoring late goals. So, the responsibility will be on them to keep a clean-sheet and make their mark going forward.
Prediction
The new manager bounce is definitely a thing and Lazio are likely to get the benefit of that over the coming weeks. Tudor would be desperate to kickstart his Lazio career with a victory in this crucial encounter.
On the other hand, Juventus have been excellent defensively this summer, although they have faltered in recent games. So, it won’t be easy for the hosts to come away with all three points from this fixture. The Bianconeri last enjoyed a league victory a month ago and therefore, they will be desperate to return to winning ways on Saturday.
So, the game might end in a stalemate, but it is going to be interesting to see how the game eventually pans out on Saturday. Lazio 2-2 Juventus.
