Lazio vs Sassuolo Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Italian Serie A
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Igor Tudor and Lazio still, somehow, have a chance of squeezing themselves into the UEFA Champions League at home to already relegated Sassuolo this weekend.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 26th May, 2024 – UK – 19:45 / US EST – 14:45 / US PST – 12:45
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: This match will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK. / This match will be televised live on CBS in the US.
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: This match will be streamed live via the TNT Sports app in the UK. / This match will be streamed live via Paramount+ in the US.
LAZIO PREVIEW: LAZIO LOOKING FOR LUCK
Right then so lets get straight into the permutations. If Atalanta finish fourth in Serie A this season then, as a result of their UEFA Europa League triumph, sixth place will get UEFA Champions League football. Lazio were dead and buried but their rise and Roma’s fall means a major goal difference swing will see Lazio overtake their capital city rivals on the final day.
They do, admittedly, start a huge ten goals behind the Giallorossi but, genuinely, the form of Roma and the fact Lazio host already relegated Sassuolo does give some hope for the hosts. They have been improved since Igor Tudor replaced Maurizio Sarri during the March international break and have suffered just two defeats in 11 matches across all competitions.
SASSUOLO PREVIEW: A HUMILIATING SEASON
Much like their underwhelming mid-table finish last season, it was clear for a lot of this campaign that Alessio Dionisi was not working out at Sassuolo but it took falling into the bottom three and the relegation places for him to be replaced by Davide Ballardini in mid-February and things, quite frankly, have only got worse.
Injuries to key attackers have majorly hampered the one-time ‘new Atalanta’ but that is no excuse for the fact they have managed just seven victories all season and two of those coming against champions Inter, their only defeats, highlighting the quality within the group. They were beaten 2-0 by Cagliari last weekend to seal their fate.
LAZIO TEAM NEWS: STICKING TO HIS GUNS
Igor Tudor loves a 3-5-2 and that appeared perfect in order to form a strike partnership between Valentin Castellanos and Ciro Immobile but he has been committed to using just one of them. In a game where running up the scoreline is vital, that may change this weekend.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Provedel; Patric, Gila, Hysaj; Marusic, Vecino, Rovella, Pellegrini; Zaccagni, Immobile, Castellanos
UNAVAILABLE: Sepe (Injured), Casale (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE:
SASSUOLO TEAM NEWS: BERARDI & DEFREL BACK TOO LATE
As mentioned, Sassuolo have been dealing with key attacking injury issues but two of those absentees, Domenico Berardi and Gregoire Defrel, are back – too late to help in their relegation battle and too late for the former to make Italy’s UEFA EURO 2024 squad.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Consigli; Erlic, Tressoldi, Ferrari; Missori, Obiang, Racic, Thorstvedt, Doig; Pinamonti, Lauriente
UNAVAILABLE: Matheus Henrique (Suspended), Castillejo (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Racic (Injured), Erlic (Injured)
LAZIO VS SASSUOLO PREDICTION
Igor Tudor, formerly of Hellas Verona and Olympique de Marseille, is an attack minded coach but his success so far as Lazio boss has actually been built on tightening up their defence and their goal count has generally been low. However, the foot has to be to the floor this weekend as Sassuolo make the trip to the Stadio Olimpico. Sassuolo, with nothing but pride to play for, may well simply roll over and a heavy Lazio win to put the pressure on Roma seems a good bet.
LAZIO VS SASSUOLO TIP: LAZIO TO WIN -2 HANDICAP
