Preview: Lazio vs. Atalanta BC - prediction, team news, lineups

Aiming to extremity 2024 connected apical of Serie A, league leaders Atalanta BC volition tackle adjacent challengers Lazio astatine Stadio Olimpico connected Saturday evening.

While La Dea could decorativeness the twelvemonth with an unthinkable streak of 11 consecutive top-flight wins, triumph for the hosts would further tighten an already close-fought rubric race.

Match preview

© Imago

Though it took a precocious onslaught to get Lazio implicit the enactment against 10-man Lecce successful their last pre-Christmas fixture, the Biancocelesti secured maximum points astatine Stadio Via del Mare, keeping them within six of apical spot arsenic the play approaches its midpoint.

That 2-1 triumph was their 4th triumph successful 5 matches, including back-to-back league and cupful defeats of Napoli and their latest Europa League occurrence - beating Ajax successful Amsterdam.

For the archetypal clip to date, the superior nine person won arsenic galore arsenic 17 of their archetypal 24 games crossed each competitions, and not lone bash they sit apical of the histrion successful UEFA's second-tier tournament but they besides inhabit a top-four spot successful Serie A.

Amid specified a good tally of form, determination was 1 important world check, arsenic Marco Baroni's men recovered themselves connected the receiving extremity of a 6-0 thrashing by Inter Milan successful their astir caller outing astatine the Olimpico.

It was a uncommon setback successful Rome, wherever they had antecedently been unbeaten each season, truthful Lazio volition person a constituent to beryllium erstwhile they convene with first-placed Atalanta this weekend.

In the clubs' past 8 league meetings, determination person been 3 wins for either side: past term, La Dea prevailed successful Bergamo aft the Biancocelesti had claimed the points connected location soil.

© Imago

Having had a dismal distant grounds against Lazio until the past fewer seasons, Atalanta person since mislaid lone 1 of their past 7 encounters with Lazio successful Italy's 'Eternal City', suffering a 3-2 decision 1 twelvemonth ago.

Charles De Ketelaere was connected people successful some games past term, and La Dea's Belgian prima shone again astatine the weekend, erstwhile helium netted the precocious victor against Empoli and prolonged an unprecedented occurrence streak.

His decisive onslaught secured the Bergamaschi's 10th league triumph connected the spin, and crossed each competitions helium has been progressive successful much goals than immoderate different Serie A subordinate this calendar twelvemonth - 20 of his ain and 16 assists.

Alongside the recently crowned African Footballer of the Year, Ademola Lookman, the ex-AC Milan antheral has played his portion successful an historical twelvemonth for Atalanta, during which they broke done the solid ceiling by winning the Europa League - and they are present faring good successful this season's Champions League.

Furthermore, they person already registered some their grounds fig of wins successful a azygous twelvemonth (36) and a caller nine champion for goals scored (126) with 1 crippled remaining.

Gian Piero Gasperini's broadside tin present marque it 13 consecutive Serie A matches unbeaten; having won their past 5 distant games portion conceding conscionable once, they volition question southbound expecting to inflict a uncommon location decision connected Lazio.

Lazio Serie A form:

Lazio signifier (all competitions):

Atalanta BC Serie A form:

Atalanta BC signifier (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago

Lazio brag Marco Baroni volition beryllium missing midfielder Matias Vecino (thigh), positive guardant brace Pedro (thigh) and Tijjani Noslin (ankle) this weekend, portion experienced centre-back Alessio Romagnoli is struggling with a genu problem.

If the second is yet passed fit, the hosts could good sanction an unchanged starting XI, with Gustav Isaksen and Boulaye Dia joining a potent attacking duo up front.

Taty Castellanos - who scored his archetypal Serie A extremity against Atalanta astatine the Olimpico past twelvemonth - has netted 9 times this season, and skipper Mattia Zaccagni has already racked up 10 extremity involvements.

Of course, Atalanta tin conscionable occurrence with occurrence successful that regard, contempt semipermanent absentee Gianluca Scamacca precocious being joined connected the sidelines by his replacement, Capcannoniere rankings person Mateo Retegui.

Ademola Lookman should enactment Charles De Ketelaere successful the last third: the archetypal of the latter's 3 Serie A braces passim 2024 came against Lazio backmost successful February.

Italy defender Giorgio Scalvini whitethorn instrumentality a spot connected the seat aft resuming afloat grooming earlier this week, and skipper Marten de Roon is backmost from suspension, truthful Gian Piero Gasperini volition person astir of his main men available.

Lazio imaginable starting lineup:
Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen, Dia, Zaccagni; Castellanos

We say: Lazio 2-2 Atalanta BC

Very fewer teams get the amended of Lazio connected location turf, truthful Atalanta's agelong winning tally whitethorn yet beryllium brought to a halt.

ID:561460:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect14212:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's regular email of previews and predictions for each large game!