Lazio might not be scheduled to play against Juventus for around a month’s time (November 13), however, given the start to the Serie A campaign that they have had and the poor beginning that the Old Lady has endured, there is plenty of excitement about this upcoming fixture.
There are many fans from America that are particularly intrigued about this classic Italian football clash, with fans of the USMNT keen to see how Weston McKennie performs for the opposition should he be able to participate and get minutes on the field.
Let’s take a look at what this particular fixture could mean when it takes place, why American fans are excited to see McKennie in action, and what still needs to happen between now and the time that these two iconic Italian football clubs clash on the pitch at the Allianz Stadium.
Why Are Fans Already Excited To See Lazio Play Juventus?
As highlighted already, there is still a month or so between now and the game between Juventus and Lazio; however, that has not stopped some fans from getting excited about the clash between these two great clubs.
Of course, one of the biggest reasons is due to the history between these two clubs, with both of them having been staples of Italian football for a very long time. This has led to an incredible rivalry between the two, with each game played between the two clubs being rather fierce and intense.
However, it could also be argued that this season’s first encounter between the two clubs is one of those that is highly anticipated is because of the positions of the two clubs in the Serie A table at the time of writing.
Serie A table. This season is gonna be madness, honestly anything can happen. pic.twitter.com/hHDTllSzV2
— ACMatt 19🏆 (@ACMatt93) October 10, 2022
Naturally, this could all change by the time that we get to kickoff, however with Lazio currently sitting third in the league and just three points from Napoli at the top, there will be many that have been encouraged by how Maurizio Sarri’s side have been performing.
On the other hand, Juventus have been performing well below expectations this season, with the Old Lady currently struggling in eighth after winning just three and drawing four of their nine games thus far.
Another reason that many may be excited for this game could be the fact that it is the final game before the winter break, with the 2022 FIFA World Cup taking place in November…
Is the 2022 FIFA World Cup the Reason Why Fans Are Excited to See Weston McKennie?
With Serie A being a global phenomenon, it has managed to attract a number of fans from around the world, including in the US. This is perhaps hardly a surprise given how the sport of football (soccer) is continuing to grow across the country, and with the USMNT set to compete in the 2022 FIFA World Cup this winter, there may have been even more eyes on Italian football.
The growth of sports betting across the US has also perhaps helped to grow the league and the sport’s profile across the country, especially as punters are now legally able to bet on the games that take place.
Many are already using the BetMGM sportsbook odds for the Serie A and other leagues such as MLS that are continually being offered now they are able to bet on the games played and they are getting the best possible offers at the same time!
Indeed, we can perhaps also expect to see sports betting on football really take off in the next month due to the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with one player in Italy perhaps being a focal point for many of their bets in a month or so’s time.
Players such as McKennie will have been on the minds and in the eyes of many American fans, as they know that he is one of the crucial components of the team and perhaps one of the players that are likely to have an impact in the upcoming tournament. The midfielder is a talented player and one that can cause problems for opponents regularly.
What Is up for Lazio Before Juventus?
It is very likely that while we are still four weeks away from the game between the two clubs, Sarri will already have been working on a game plan in order to neutralize the threat that Juventus and McKennie can provide.
However, a month in football is an incredibly long time, and with numerous games still left to be played before then, Lazio certainly can ill-afford to look too far ahead, especially when they have European football to play, too.
The team is still in Europa League action and with the group extremely tight, they will need to ensure that they are at their best in the remaining games against FC Midtjylland, and Feyenoord if they want to qualify and progress to the knockout stage following the conclusion of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
There are plenty of games to still be played in Serie A, too, with matches against Udinese, Atalanta, Salernitana, arch-rivals Roma, and Monza before taking on Juventus at the Allianz Stadium. None of the games can be considered easy, either, with each of the teams mid-table or higher. Monza are the lowest at 12th as of now, while Lazio find themselves wedged between Atalanta and Udinese at the moment and a point clear of Roma.
Final Thoughts
It is widely accepted that looking too far ahead can be considered dangerous for football clubs, especially when there are numerous fixtures that are still left to be played between now and a game that is around a month away.
Nonetheless, we can understand why there are so many that excited to see this upcoming game and why fans of the USMNT might be excited to see Weston McKennie take to the field, especially as it will be the final club game before the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup!
