Aiming to continue their improvement after a dismal start to the season, Lazio visit Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium on Saturday.
Despite winning their most recent games in Europe and Serie A, the Biancocelesti have lost four times already and will return from the international break level on points with their hosts.
Match preview
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Having won two of their last three league matches - as many as in the previous six - and beaten Celtic in the Champions League, Lazio may believe they have finally turned the corner following a slow start to the 2023-24 campaign.
Last time out, Maurizio Sarri's men recovered from throwing away a two-goal advantage at home to Atalanta and secured a precious 3-2 win thanks to Matias Vecino's 83rd-minute winner.
The Biancocelesti still languish inside the bottom half of the Serie A standings, but since goalkeeper Ivan Provedel headed a dramatic late equaliser against Atletico Madrid in mid-September, they have lost just once - to Milan at San Siro.
Following their first Champions League victory outside of Rome for two decades, gained via Pedro's last-gasp strike at Celtic Park, Lazio will aim to repeat that feat next Wednesday, when they travel to Rotterdam for a tough test against Dutch champions Feyenoord. First, though, domestic duty awaits.
At the least, Sarri will expect his team to avoid losing for a fifth time in their first nine Serie A fixtures on Saturday, as that would represent Lazio's worst opening spell since 1983. More likely, the ex-Napoli boss will target a rare league victory on the road.
Sarri's side have lost three of their first four away matches in the top flight this term - only one loss fewer than throughout the whole of last season - but will arrive in Reggio-Emilia with a superb track record against their hosts.
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Not only have Sassuolo lost each of their last three league meetings with their capital-city counterparts, but in all, the Emilian club have been beaten 12 times in 20 Serie A matches between the sides.
Like Lazio, Alessio Dionisi's men started this season sluggishly, but a couple of giant-slaying results to end September seem to have breathed new life into a previously subdued squad - three goals from star man Domenico Berardi certainly helped.
Taking maximum points from games against Calcio giants Juventus and Inter demonstrated the talent at Dionisi's disposal, but a 1-0 loss to Monza soon followed, and his squad went into the international period after a battling 1-1 draw down in Lecce.
As a result, Sassuolo sit level with Lazio in the table, with both clubs having 10 points on the board ahead of their clash at the Mapei Stadium, where the home side have both won and lost twice this term.
If the Neroverdi are to improve on last season's 13th-placed finish, however, they must find a way of keeping the back door more firmly shut: they have conceded goals in each of their last 16 league matches - the longest ongoing run in Italy's top flight.
Team News
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Lazio are expecting goalkeeper Ivan Provedel to return from a hip injury that saw him withdraw from Luciano Spalletti's Italy squad for the recent Euro 2024 qualifiers, while fellow Azzurri call-up Mattia Zaccagni also hopes to be passed fit.
The latter returned to Rome after an ankle issue ruled the ex-Verona forward out of international action, and having scored four goals in his last five Serie A games against Sassuolo, he will be keen to join Ciro Immobile in the visitors' attacking trident.
Summer signing Taty Castellanos found the net against Atalanta but is likely to make way for Immobile up front, providing Lazio's captain can overcome a flexor problem.
Meanwhile, Sassuolo's squad will be depleted by absences on Saturday evening, as Mattia Viti (adductor), Matheus Henrique (hamstring), Pedro Obiang (thigh) and Agustin Alvarez (ACL) are on the sidelines.
Leading the hosts' line up front, Andrea Pinamonti already has four league goals this season - only one less than all of last term - and will be supported from the right flank by Domenico Berardi.
Berardi recently became one of just two players, alongside Lautaro Martinez, to have scored at least five times in each of the last six Serie A seasons. Furthermore, only Martinez and Victor Osimhen have been directly involved in more goals than the Neroverdi's talisman this calendar year: 16 of his own and eight assists.
Sassuolo possible starting lineup:
Consigli; Toljan, Erlic, Ferrari, Vina; Boloca, Racic; Berardi, Bajrami, Lauriente; Pinamonti
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Marusic, Romagnoli, Casale, Hysaj; Alberto, Rovella, Guendouzi; Pedro, Immobile, Zaccagni
We say: Sassuolo 2-2 Lazio
Both Sassuolo and Lazio average over a goal per game this season, and the rate at which they concede is even higher. Therefore, a contest between two teams that like to impose themselves on proceedings could provide plenty of goalmouth action.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
