Two teams who have been in great form will be looking to continue their fine recent runs, as Lazio welcome Chievo to the Stadio Olimpico.

The Aquile are in need of vital points to maintain their bid for a Champions League spot, while their opponents from Verona have almost secured their place in the top flight for another season.

Lazio

© Getty Images

Lazio will be looking to get back to winning ways after suffering a 2-0 defeat to league leaders Juventus last Sunday. They were outplayed from the start against the champions and they ended the night with 10 men after Danilo Cataldi saw red in the closing stages.

It brought to an end an eight-game winning run that has propelled them up to second in the league table and level on points with their fierce rivals Roma.

Stefano Pioli will be hoping that his team are able to respond and prove that it was just a blip, as they are on the verge of returning to the Champions League for the first time in seven seasons.

There is a feeling that Lazio must win their next three games against Chievo, Parma and Atalanta, before they face tough fixtures against Inter Milan and Sampdoria.

Their last two games of the season are against rivals directly in the battle for a Champions League spot, as they will take on Roma in their penultimate match of the campaign before visiting Napoli on the final day.

They currently have a five-point lead over Napoli in the table, but with Rafael Benitez's side back in form, there is every chance that their meeting at the Stadio San Paolo will prove vital.

Recent form in Serie A WWWWWL
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWWWL

Chievo

© Getty Images

Just two months ago, there were major concerns that Chievo were going to be dragged into a relegation battle, as a 3-0 defeat at Empoli left them just four points clear of the bottom three.

However, the Gialloblu have lost just one of their seven games since and their impressive run of form has seen them move 13 points above the relegation zone to ease their fears of dropping down to Serie B.

They very nearly won for the fourth time in five league matches last weekend, but Udinese came from behind to hold them to a 1-1 draw thanks to Bostjan Cesar's late own goal.

There is still work left for them to make entirely sure of their place in Serie A over the coming weeks, but Rolando Maran has made his team a far more solid unit and goalless draws against AC Milan and Roma have shown their growing maturity.

In fact, they have conceded just two goals fewer than Lazio have in the league this season, but with only 23 goals scored they have the worst attack in the entire top flight.

Recent form: DWWLWD

Team News

© Getty Images

Lazio are facing an injury crisis, with Marco Parolo, Lucas Biglia and Stefan de Vrij all ruled out.

They will also be without Cataldi, who was sent off against Juventus last weekend, so Ogenyi Onazi and Cristian Ledesma could be handed rare starts.

Chievo also have problems of their own, as Riccardo Meggiorini and Valter Birsa are both suspended.

Alberto Paloschi and Sergio Pellissier, who have scored five goals between them in their last five games, are expected to start up front.

Lazio possible starting lineup:
Berisha, Basta, Cana, Mauricio, Lulic, Onazi, Ledesma, Candreva, Mauri, Anderson, Klose

Chievo possible starting lineup:
Bizzarri, Frey, Dainelli, Cesar, Zukanovic, Schelotto, Izco, Radovanovic, Hetemaj, Paloschi, Pellissier

Head To Head

In this season's reverse fixture there was little excitement, as the two teams played out a goalless draw at the ​Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi.

Lazio have enjoyed a decent record over Chievo in recent seasons and they have lost just one of the previous 11 meetings between the teams.

The last time that they met in Rome, it was Lazio who romped to the three points, as Antonio Candreva, Luis Cavanda and Senad Lulic struck to to earn them a 3-0 victory

We say: Lazio 2-0 Chievo

Lazio will be hoping that their defeat to Juventus last weekend was a blip, as they look to keep a firm grip of their place in the top three. It won't be easy for them against a Chievo side who have been solid at the back in recent weeks, but we think that they will be strong enough to pick up all three points.

Previews by email