Lazio vs Porto Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Europa League | League Phase
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It has been an impressive couple of months for Marco Baroni and Lazio in both Serie A and the UEFA Europa League. The capital city club are now looking to continue that against FC Porto at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Thursday 7th November, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – CBS Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+
LAZIO PREVIEW: LETHAL LAZIO
Over the summer, Lazio took the decision to appoint Hellas Verona miracle worker Marco Baroni and he, after a slow-ish start whilst bedding in at the Stadio Olimpico has very much turned things around in the capital city as they launch themselves towards a Serie A title race for the first time in over a decade.
Lazio come into this one on the back of a 2-1 defeat of Cagliari to make it three successive league victories and also mean they have now suffered just one loss in their last eight matches across all competitions. They have three wins from three in the UEFA Europa League against Dynamo Kyiv, Nice and Twente.
PORTO PREVIEW: IMPRESSIVE PORTO
Following the departure of Sergio Conceicao, which followed the presidency of Porto being given to former manager Andre Villas-Boas, Porto made the decision to appoint Vitor Bruno. The Dragoes remain second in the table behind Ruben Amorim’s Sporting CP but they have won nine and lost just one of their opening ten Portuguese Primeira Liga fixtures.
In the UEFA Europa League, Porto began their campaign with a shock 3-2 defeat in the Arctic Circle against Bodo/Glimt before a thrilling 3-3 draw with Manchester United at Estadio do Dragao. After one point from two matches, they the eased past Hoffenheim by two goals to nil a couple of weeks ago.
LAZIO TEAM NEWS: FULLY FIT
Marco Baroni have a fully fit and available squad for this weekend’s clash against Porto with no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues for this one.
The home team will therefore be able to name an unchanged eleven for this one and given their form, they will be expected to name an unchanged side.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Mandas; Marusic, Gigot, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Matias Vecino, Dele-Bashiru; Tchaouna, Pedro, Zaccagni; Dia
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
PORTO TEAM NEWS: KEY INJURIES
The key man for Porto and the Dragoes this weekend would be Spanish striker Samu Omorodion, who has enjoyed a very impressive start to his Porto career.
The hosts are dealing with a few defensive injuries as two left-backs, Zaidu Sanusi and Wendell, injured alongside centre-back Ivan Marcano for this one.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Costa; Fernandes, Perez, Djalo, Moura; Varela, Nico Gonzalez; Pepe Aquino, Ivan Jaime, Galeno; Samu
UNAVAILABLE: Ivan Marcano (Injured), Sanusi (Injured), Wendell (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
KEY STATS
- Lazio are unbeaten in their previous seven UEFA competition matches at home against Portuguese teams (W5 D2) – the draws were in their only two home matches against Porto.
- Lazio are aiming to win four successive UEFA competition matches for the first time since the 2017/18 UEFA Europa League group stage.
- Lazio have won seven of their last ten UEFA competition matches (L3).
- Lazio have lost only one of their last 14 UEFA competition matches at home (W8 D5).
- Lazio are unbeaten in their last 14 UEFA competition group/league phase matches at home (W9 D5).
- Porto have won two and drawn two of their previous four UEFA competition matches against Lazio.
- Porto have lost only two of their last nine UEFA competition matches against Italian teams (W4 D3).
- Porto have won only one of their last 12 UEFA competition matches away from home against Italian teams (D4 7).
- Porto have lost only three of their previous 15 UEFA Europa League group/league phase matches (W9 D3).
LAZIO VS PORTO PREDICTION
These are two strong sides that are expected to go deep into the UEFA Europa League this season. Lazio will be expected to get on the front four with an exciting attack that consists of Pedro, Boulaye Dia, Gustav Isaksen and Valentin Castellanos. Porto will be expected to challenge at the Olimpico with some genuine cohesion in attack that is built around Samu so both teams scoring may well be a good bet for this one.
LAZIO VS PORTO TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
