After bitter disappointment against AC Milan at San Siro on Saturday evening, Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio will need to bounce back with a victory as they entertain Udinese at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday night. This fixture is one that has been rearranged from earlier on in the season; meaning that it is Lazio’s ‘game-in-hand’ over their rivals in the race for the top four.
Lazio vs Udinese – The Biancocelesti View
Lazio come into the game against Udinese in a poor recent run of form; despite a strong run-in prior to that. Lazio are currently without a win in three league games; losing to Milan on Saturday after a 2-2 draw with Sassuolo and a 1-0 loss to Spal. This poor run has seen the Biancocelesti lose serious ground in their pursuit of Champions League football; especially given the improving results of Roma, Atalanta and Inter – all of whom in direct competition with Inzaghi’s side for those coveted places.
Lazio are currently 8th in the Serie A table; one point above 9th placed Sampdoria (with Lazio having a game in hand) and one point behind Torino in 7th (who also have played one more game than Inzaghi’s team have). A win for Lazio against Udinese would put them just two points behind 5th placed Roma and three points behind Milan (who sit in fourth).
Lazio are unbeaten in four home matches, however, with draws against Milan and Sassuolo and 4-1 and 3-1 wins over Parma and Roma respectively. The Biancocelesti have also won their last four home games against Udinese; this fixture finishing 3-0 in the 2017/18 season, with an own goal from Samir and goals from Nani and Felipe Anderson giving Inzaghi’s side the three points.
Lazio vs Udinese – Opposition Preview
Udinese, at the time of writing, sit in 16th in Serie A; with 32 points from 31 matches played. The club sit just one point above 17th placed Bologna and only four points clear of the relegation zone, with Empoli on 28 points. Udinese have only lost two of their last five, including victories over Empoli and Genoa; albeit at home in Udine. On the road, however, the team look a different sort; with just eight points and one sole victory on the road this season. Their last five games on the road have seen four defeats, to Roma, Napoli, Juventus and Torino, whilst they have drawn one, against AC Milan at the start of April. Udinese have not won a match on the road since the 23rd of September, when they beat Chievo 2-0 in Verona.
Lazio vs Udinese – Predicted Line-ups
Lazio (3-5-2): Strakosha; Bastos, Acerbi, Luiz Felipe; Lulic, Milinkovic-Savic, Leiva, Parolo, Marusic; Caicedo, Immobile
Udinese (3-5-2): Musso; Samir, Troost-Ekong, De Maio; D’Alessandro, De Paul, Mandragora, Fofana, Larsen; Okaka, Lasagna
Lazio vs Udinese – Prediction
Lazio should have no problem with picking up an important three points on Wednesday night. It is at the point in the season where games like these are must-win; albeit for both sides. Udinese are fighting for survival and may put up a spirited fight but, given their woeful record on the road and Lazio’s strength at home, Lazio will likely come away with the win.
Lazio 3-0 Udinese
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