Just ahead of a major European tie, Lazio aim to get back on track in Serie A when they visit relegation-threatened Cagliari on Saturday.
While the Biancocelesti - who meet Bayern Munich next week - have picked up only one point from the last six available, their hosts must now face another capital club, having just been thumped by Roma.
Match preview
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Although Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri has been publicly assured by club president Claudio Lotito that his job is not in jeopardy after recent results, pressure is growing on the former Chelsea coach to instil some consistency in his somewhat flaky side.
Following a fine run of five consecutive wins across all competitions, which lifted them back into European contention, a humbling Supercoppa Italiana defeat to Inter Milan last month proved the catalyst for another nosedive.
Having returned home empty-handed from Saudi Arabia, they then drew with ailing champions Napoli, before suffering a 3-1 loss to Atalanta BC in their first February fixture.
La Dea were deserved winners in Bergamo, where Ciro Immobile's late penalty only reduced Lazio's margin of defeat, and Sarri's side have now lost six of 11 away games in the league this season. Their latest setback even prompted Sarri to call out his players, inviting them to discuss matters with Lotito if they were not satisfied with his management.
All is not lost, though, as the Biancocelesti beat bitter rivals Roma in January's Coppa Italia quarter-finals - booking a semi-final tie with Juventus - and resume their Champions League campaign with a last-16 clash against German giants Bayern Munich next Wednesday.
Indeed, Lazio are still just five points shy of returning to the top four, in which they finished last year, when they strode through the pack in springtime to finish runners-up.
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Not only have Cagliari won none of their last 17 league matches against Lazio - losing 14 and conceding an average of two goals per game - but they have failed to pick up a single point from the teams' last four meetings in Sardinia.
History suggests, then, they may not be best placed to take advantage of their visitors woes this weekend, while recent results also make the Rossoblu outsiders to prevail.
Claudio Ranieri's side have just suffered three consecutive defeats in Serie A, shipping goals at a rate of three goals per game, and are mired inside the relegation zone.
After enjoying a three-match unbeaten streak in which they had shown signs of improving defensively, Cagliari followed reverses against Frosinone and Torino with a chastening 4-0 defeat to resurgent Roma last week.
Yet to win on the road since returning to Italy's top flight, they have fared far better on Sardinian soil, losing only four times in 11 outings ahead of Lazio's arrival.
Team News
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While Danilo Cataldi returns to action after his one-match ban, fellow midfielder Nicolo Rovella must now serve a suspension, so Maurizio Sarri could make a straight swap in Lazio's engine room this weekend.
Patric is still absent with a shoulder injury, so Mario Gila should again partner Alessio Romagnoli at the heart of the Biancocelesti's back four; Italy winger Mattia Zaccagni is Sarri's only other fitness concern.
Set to start up front, Ciro Immobile has previously scored 12 league goals against Cagliari, including five in his last six meetings with Saturday's hosts. Lazio's long-serving skipper struck for the 199th time in Serie A last time out: only eight players have ever notched 200 goals in the Italian top flight, including Roberto Baggio, Francesco Totti and Antonio Di Natale.
Meanwhile, the home side's attack could feature Angola striker Zito Luvumbo, who returned from the Africa Cup of Nations to feature as a substitute against Roma - current incumbents Andrea Petagna and Gianluca Lapadula have failed to find any chemistry.
Two more forwards, Gaetano Oristanio and Eldor Shomurodov, are sidelined by foot injuries, while Cagliari cannot count on Marco Mancosu either.
Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Scuffet; Wieteska, Mina, Dossena; Zappa, Nandez, Makoumbou, Prati, Azzi; Luvumbo, Petagna
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Marusic; Guendouzi, Cataldi, Alberto; Isaksen, Immobile, Anderson
We say: Cagliari 1-1 Lazio
For all their woes on the road, Cagliari can test most teams on home turf - and Lazio look like they have lost some rhythm. The spoils could therefore be shared by two teams with very different objectives, fully satisfying neither.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
