Lazio vs Fiorentina

Lazio and Fiorentina are set to trade tackles at the Stadio Olimpico in a handsomely-looking Serie A showdown.

Conceding twice before halftime paved the way for Lazio’s embarrassing 3-1 defeat at Feyenoord in midweek Champions League action, sending manager Maurizio Sarri into a mad town. The charismatic Italian coach will demand a response from his men against a Fiorentina they’ve beaten in four of their last five top-flight H2Hs at the Stadio Olimpico (D1). Nothing less will do for ‘I Biancocelesti,’ who seem to have found their feet after a bumpy five-game league start (W1, D1, L3), clocking up three wins in four Serie A matches in the build-up to this encounter (L1). Sarri’s side won their last two league games on either side of October’s international break, squeezing past Atalanta 3-2 at home before hammering Sassuolo 2-0 on the road, with both wins seeing them score precisely two first-half goals.

Coping with Lazio’s quick-fire starts may not be a problem for Fiorentina, who scored three times inside the first 30 minutes en route to demolishing Serbian outfit Cukaricki 6-0 in midweek Europa Conference League action. That was the perfect way to respond to last weekend’s frustrating 2-0 home defeat to Empoli, restoring some confidence in the ‘La Viola’ camp ahead of their trip to the Stadio Olimpico, where they last won a league match in May 2016. On the upside, Vincenzo Italiano’s men have fared well on their recent travels, alternating between winning (2) and drawing (2) on their last four since a 4-0 humbling at the hands of Inter Milan in early September. Indeed, Fiorentina thrashed reigning champions Napoli 3-1 on the most recent Serie A road trip.