Lazio vs Genoa: Match Preview
Lazio hosts Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico in Matchday 6 of the 2019/20 Serie A. The Aquile currently find themselves in 9th place while the Grifone sits in 15th place in the top flight of Italian football.
Looking at the previous 10 matches between the two sides, the Biancocelesti have been dominant, winning on five occasions and losing three times. In this period from February of 2015 to February of 2019, they have scored 20 goals, conceded 13, and have been able to keep just three clean sheets. In more recent times, each side won a match last year: Lazio won 4-1 at home in the first leg but were defeated 2-1 in the return leg at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. In regards to form in the Serie A this campaign, Lazio has a record of 2W-1D-2L, while Genoa has a record of 1W-2D-2L.
This clash will see two Rossoblu players return to play against their former club. The first is Italian 36-year-old goalkeeper Federico Marchetti. He was officially acquired by Lazio in the summer of 2011 but joined Genoa in the summer of 2018 on a free transfer following his contract expiry. The second is Macedonian 36-year-old striker Goran Pandev. He played for Lazio from 2004 to 2010 until his contract expired.
Lazio vs Genoa: Expected Lineups
Bastos arguably put in the best performance midweek against Inter. The defender showed he is a jack of all trades making eight clearances, six dribbles, five blocks, five interceptions, and winning four aerial duels. However, it looks as if Stefan Radu will return to the left center-back role, leaving him out of the starting eleven. Ciro Immobile is likely to return to his regular position up top after being left on the bench to start the match against Inter.
Lazio (3-5-1-1): Strakosha; Luiz Felipe, Acerbi, Radu; Lulic, Luis Alberto, Leiva, Milinkovic, Marusic; Caicedo; Immobile.
ODDS: Luiz Felipe-Patric: 55-45%, Marusic-Lazzari: 60-40%, Caicedo-Correa: 51-49%
Genoa (3-5-2): Radu; Criscito, Romero, Biraschi; Barreca, Schone, Radovanovic, Lerager, Ghiglione; Pinamonti, Kouamé
ODDS: Biraschi-Zapata: 55-45% , Criscito-Goldaniga: 70-30%, Schone-Saponara: 51-49%, Barreca-Pajac: 55-45%
Lazio vs Genoa: Prediction
Lazio is coming off a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Inter in which the team played well but failed to capitalize on their chances. Stefano De Martino, the Director of Communications at the club, said this following the match: “In the plane on the way back from the San Siro, there was so much discouragement for the defeat because what was produced by us was not reflected by the final result…” I think everyone who watched the match could understand why he stated this – goalkeeper Samir Handanovic was crucial in keeping the Biancocelesti from scoring, making plenty of wonderful saves. However, the main talking point in this match was Ciro Immobile being benched for ‘tactical reasons’. This decision occurred after he threw a fit the match before (for being taken off early in the second half). Although the striker apologized, it seems as if the real reason was punishment, and this had many fans uneasy going into the match at the San Siro. Now, returning home to the Stadio Olimpico, they will be hoping to bounce back against a Genoa side who have been struggling themselves this season. Manager Simone Inzaghi will need to ensure his team is more clinical in closing off games if the return to Champions League football is secured. A final note: the last five times that the Rossoblu has traveled to Rome, they have only managed to win on one occasion.
Prediction: Lazio 2-1 Genoa
