Lazio vs Atalanta Preview: Team News & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
In what is a congested and exciting title race in Italy, we have two of the six teams involved meeting at the Stadio Olimpico at the capital city as Lazio face Atalanta in Rome.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 28th December, 2024: UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
How to watch online: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+
Lazio Preview: Getting back on track
Over the summer, Lazio appointed last season’s Hellas Verona miracle worker Marco Baroni to try and evolve the style of football implemented by Maurizio Sarri and Igor Tudor and there have been moments of concern but, overall, he has done an excellent job in the opening few months.
Bouncing back from a 6-0 demolition at the hands of defending champions Internazionale at the Stadio Olimpico, Lazio responded by defeating ten-man Lecce by two goals to one at Stadio Comunale Via del Mare thanks to a late Adam Marusic winner.
Atalanta Preview: Top at Christmas
Gian Piero Gasperini’s genius has been to take a bottom-half Atalanta side to a regular qualifier for European competition, as well as last season’s UEFA Europa League triumph, and the Bergamasci are now dreaming of something very special as they sit top of Serie A at Christmas.
They come into this one on the back of a thrilling 3-2 victory over Empoli in their most recent outing in Bergamo last weekend. Empoli opened the scoring before goals from Ademola Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere with the latter then scoring a winner late on.
Lazio Team News: Injuries in attack
After discovering some excellent form of late, former Hellas Verona forward Tijjani Noslin is now unavailable due to an ankle injury with Uruguay international Matias Vecino sidelined alongside Pedro, who are both dealing with thigh injuries.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Provedel; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen, Dia, Zaccagni; Valentin Castellanos
Unavailable: Matias Vecino (Injured), Pedro (Injured), Noslin (Injured)
Questionable:
Atalanta Team News: Striker issues
Mateo Retegui has been essential for Atalanta so far this season in the absence of Gianluca Scamacca but the former has now joined the latter on the sidelines due to injury with defender Giorgio Scalvini also an injury doubt due to a shoulder issue.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Bellanova, Pasalic, Ederson, Zappacosta; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Retegui
Unavailable: Retegui (Injured), Scamacca (Injured)
Questionable: Scalvini (Injured)
Lazio vs Atalanta Prediction
Lazio have been very entertaining to watch with Marco Baroni discovering a bit more efficiency in the opening 17 matches of the campaign. Their 17 matches have consisted of 58 goals thus far. They now take on the league’s joint top scorers, level with defending champions Inter, Atalanta, who have been relentless in the last few months and an entertaining and high scoring affair at the Olimpico appears a good bet for this one.
Lazio vs Atalanta Tip: Over 2.5 goals
