Top-four contenders Lazio visit Serie A strugglers Venezia on Saturday, aiming to boost their hopes of a Champions League return.
The Biancocelesti snatched a late point against the league leaders last week, while their ailing hosts suffered a third straight defeat.
Match preview
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After posting back-to-back wins over Cagliari and Monza, a buoyant Lazio side ultimately settled for one point against Napoli last weekend, when Boulaye Dia struck an 87th-minute leveller at Stadio Olimpico.
Gustav Isaksen had put the hosts in front, before the Danish winger later missed a sitter, but some dubious defending then put them in danger of ending up empty-handed.
Following an eventful 2-2 draw, Lazio lost their grip on fourth place, as Juventus pulled level on points by triumphing in the Derby d'Italia.
In addition to Juve, Marco Baroni's men are also vying with Fiorentina, Bologna and AC Milan to claim a cherished Champions League spot, while arch-rivals Roma cannot be ruled out.
To aid their quest this weekend, the Biancocelesti will try to win three successive away fixtures in Italy's top tier for the first time since November 2022.
Consistently inconsistent on their travels this season, Lazio have yet to record a single away draw in Serie A, having won seven and lost five on the road so far.
Bringing up four straight league wins over Saturday's hosts, the capital club beat Venezia 3-1 on the opening day of the season, and they will expect nothing less than victory at Stadio Penzo.
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To date, Venezia's six Serie A wins over Lazio have all come on home soil, so at least history will be on their side in one respect.
After Monday's meek defeat in Genoa, the Lagunari are still winless outside of Venice this term, and they have been heavily reliant on picking up points at the Penzo to avoid being cut adrift.
Sitting 19th in the table and facing an immediate return to Serie B, they have won a higher share of points from home games than any other club (75%, or 12 of 16).
Yet to taste success anywhere in 2025, Eusebio Di Francesco's side are currently five points from safety, with their most recent victory dating back to December.
Having sold top scorer Joel Pohjanpalo to second-tier side Palermo, the Arancioneroverdi failed to find the net in either of their last two outings, so new strikers Daniel Fila and Mirko Maric must start scoring sooner rather than later.
Team News
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Lazio's top-four push has been dealt a major blow, as star striker Taty Castellanos will be ruled out of action for up to a month, having limped off with a thigh injury against Napoli.
Since his arrival at the start of last season, the Biancocelesti have won 54% of their Serie A fixtures with the Argentinian available; however, that success rate drops to 17% without him - and they average just 0.7 goals per game.
Furthermore, Matias Vecino and Elseid Hysaj are still sidelined, and midfield fulcrum Nicolo Rovella must serve a suspension. The latter could be replaced by either Fisayo Dele-Bashiru or Reda Belahyane, while Tijjani Noslin should deputise for Castellanos.
Meanwhile, the hosts will be without first-choice goalkeeper Filip Stankovic, plus Richie Sagrado, Domen Crnigoj and long-term absentee Michael Svoboda.
Gianluca Busio is set to return to the starting lineup after being benched in Genoa, while Gaetano Oristanio - who is the only Venezia player to have played all 25 Serie A matches this season - should support Daniel Fila up front.
Only Como star Nico Paz has completed more dribbles than Oristanio so far this term - the ex-Inter Milan man has tallied 45, level with Rafael Leao.
Venezia possible starting lineup:
Radu; Schingtienne, Idzes, Cande; Zerbin, Perez, Nicolussi Caviglia, Busio, Ellertsson; Oristanio; Fila
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Mandas; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Guendouzi, Dele-Bashiru; Isaksen, Dia, Zaccagni; Noslin
We say: Venezia 0-2 Lazio
Even without a couple of key players, Lazio have too much firepower for lowly Venezia to handle - their squad depth has been evident in the Europa League.
Indeed, the Rome club have scored the most Serie A goals via substitutes this season (14) - while Venezia have netted fewest (one) - so, if needed, they can turn the game in their favour late on.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
