MX23RW : Thursday, June 27 09:26:11| >> :120:60492:60492:
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Lazio logo
Serie A | Gameweek 20
Jan 6, 2022 at 1.30pm UK
Stadio Olimpico
Empoli logo

Lazio
3 - 3
Empoli

Immobile (14'), Milinkovic-Savic (66', 90+3')
Felipe (18'), Pedro (52'), Marusic (62'), Alberto (71')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Bajrami (6' pen.), Zurkowski (8'), Di Francesco (75')
Parisi (10'), Marchizza (33'), Luperto (86'), Bandinelli (90+5')

Preview: Lazio vs. Empoli - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Serie A clash between Lazio and Empoli, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Lazio and Empoli head into Thursday's Serie A fixture at Stadio Olimpico sitting in eighth and ninth place respectively in the standings.

Nevertheless, there is a four-point gap separating the two clubs, giving the home side an opportunity to push ninth position and beyond further out of the European mix.


Match preview

Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri during the match on November 25, 2021© Reuters

With Lazio currently occupying a spot outside of the European places, it is fair to say that Maurizio Sarri has not always had it his own way since moving to the club in the summer.

However, nine points from four games, coupled with the teams above them maintaining their own inconsistencies, has kept Lazio within three points of fifth position.

A trip to Inter Milan at the weekend may change that scenario, but Lazio can keep the pressure on their rivals with another victory at their home ground.

As it stands, I Biancocelesti possess the second-best home record in the division, even if they have only prevailed in one of their last three games on familiar territory.

On a positive note, six goals have been scored during two games without leading marksman Ciro Immobile, Pedro netting in both matches to take his tally for the season to seven.

Empoli manager Aurelio Andreazzoli pictured in August 2021© Reuters

As for Empoli, failure to win either of their last two matches has come at the wrong time, Aurelio Andreazzoli's team now back towards the mid-table positions.

However, their only defeat in seven in all competitions has been by a 4-2 scoreline to AC Milan, while 15 goals have been netted during that period.

Clean sheets remain an issue, their only shutout since September 26 coming at Napoli, but one of the minnows of the division can approach the second half of the campaign with a sense of freedom having already opened a 16-point advantage over the bottom three.

Nevertheless, they play three of the top eight during January, and Andreazolli will be demanding a fast start to the year, at least in terms of performances.

Lazio Serie A form:
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W

Lazio form (all competitions):
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • W

Empoli Serie A form:
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L

Empoli form (all competitions):
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L



Team News

Lazio's Ciro Immobile celebrates scoring their first goal with Felipe Anderson on September 19, 2021© Reuters

Elseid Hysaj and Immobile are both in line to return to the Lazio starting lineup after recovering from spells on the sidelines.

With Francesco Acerbi an injury doubt, Stefan Radu could move into the middle of the defence, while Felipe Anderson may drop out of the attack.

Despite continuing to impress as a substitute, Luis Alberto may again have to make do with a spot among the replacements.

Empoli will hope to have Petar Stojanovic available after the right-back needed to be withdrawn during the first half of the Milan fixture.

Federico Di Francesco is also in contention for a recall in attack, potentially as an alternative to Patrick Cutrone.

Lazio possible starting lineup:
Strakosha; Marusic, Felipe, Radu, Hysaj; Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi, Basic; Pedro, Immobile, Zaccagni

Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Stojanovic, Romagnoli, Luperto, Parisi; Zurkowski, Ricci, Henderson; Bajrami; Pinamonti, Di Francesco


SM words green background

We say: Lazio 3-1 Empoli

Having ended 2021 on a low note, Empoli would have welcomed the opportunity to regroup ahead of this important fixture. However, Lazio had gotten back on track ahead of the Christmas break, and we are backing the home side to run out convincing winners on Thursday.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Lazio win with a probability of 62.38%. A draw had a probability of 21% and a win for Empoli had a probability of 16.64%.

The most likely scoreline for a Lazio win was 1-0 with a probability of 10.8%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (10.78%) and 2-1 (9.93%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (9.95%), while for a Empoli win it was 0-1 (4.99%). The actual scoreline of 3-3 was predicted with a 0.9% likelihood.


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Game History

How you voted: Lazio vs Empoli

Lazio
81.0%
Draw
12.2%
Empoli
6.8%
147
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Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic celebrates scoring against Inter Milan in February 2020
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania41215
Q Slovakia Slovakia41215
Q Belgium Belgium31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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