Still vying for a place in Europe thanks to their recent revival, Lazio visit mid-table Monza on Saturday evening.
Last year's Serie A runners-up have travelled a rockier road this season, but now reborn under new management, they will aim to extend their hosts' slump.
Match preview
© Reuters
Making a significant impact since replacing Maurizio Sarri at Stadio Olimpico, new Lazio boss Igor Tudor notched a fourth league win from five last weekend, as Mattia Zaccagni struck the only goal against former club Hellas Verona in Rome.
Once in charge of Verona, before a relatively brief stay in Marseille, Tudor's return to Italy has helped the Biancocelesti recover from a definite downturn towards the end of Sarri's reign.
Following the latter's exit, Lazio have accrued the most points in Serie A (15, one more than new champions Inter Milan) and are back in the race for a top-seven finish later this month.
Although their recent Coppa Italia semi-final loss to another of Tudor's former clubs, Juventus, was a bitter pill to swallow, they moved five points clear of eighth-placed Fiorentina by winning last week - albeit, the Viola still have one game in hand.
Having tightened things up at the back, Lazio could now record three consecutive clean sheets in Serie A for the first time since last spring, when they were in the process of ascending to second place behind runaway leaders Napoli.
One year on, Europa Conference League qualification would prove satisfactory, and depending on Italian clubs' success at the sharp end of UEFA competitions this season, as many as eight European places could be available.
© Reuters
Any faint hopes of an unlikely European debut have long since withered for Monza, whose once-promising season seems to be petering out into mediocrity.
Only Matteo Pessina's stoppage-time spot kick prevented them losing to Lecce last weekend, as he cancelled out what appeared to be a spectacular late winner by Nikola Krstovic by coolly converting from 12 yards: Monza's captain has now scored seven of eight penalties taken in Serie A.
That 1-1 draw took the Biancorossi's winless streak to five games, which is the first time highly-rated head coach Raffaele Palladino has endured such a barren run since his promotion from the club's primavera in September 2022.
Occupying 11th place in the table - the same position they finished on last year's top-flight debut - Palladino's men are marooned in mid-table, with only the hope of catching 10th-placed Torino and securing a top-half finish left to motivate them.
Ahead of Lazio's arrival, Monza have lost their last two home games - against Napoli and Atalanta BC - and now sit 11 points adrift of their counterparts from the capital.
Following two defeats last term, and their 1-1 draw in September's reverse fixture, a first Serie A win over the Biancocelesti would at least boost attempts to stop the season ending on a down note.
Team News
© Reuters
After spending several weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury, Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel is expected to make his comeback on Saturday, but as he may be benched, Christos Mandas can continue to deputise.
Although still troubled by a calf problem, Daichi Kamada - rehabilitated under Igor Tudor after falling out of favour with Maurizio Sarri - should be passed fit, but Mario Gila (thigh) and Manuel Lazzari (muscular) are both ruled out.
Tudor's most notable selection quandary will be up front, as out-of-form captain Ciro Immobile vies with Taty Castellanos to spearhead the visitors' attack.
Meanwhile, Monza are without Andrea Carboni, Jose Machin and Patrick Ciurria, but Dany Mota and Armando Izzo now return from injury.
With Roberto Gagliardini suspended, Lazio loanee Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro should be retained in midfield, alongside Matteo Pessina, whose last-gasp leveller against Lecce took him on to six league goals for the season, two behind top scorer Andrea Colpani.
The latter - who has been linked with a summer move to Lazio, as Luis Alberto's potential replacement - was benched last week but will contend for promotion from the bench, as will Daniel Maldini and veteran striker Milan Djuric.
Monza possible starting lineup:
Mandas; Casale, Romagnoli, Patric; Marusic, Guendouzi, Kamada, Anderson; Alberto, Zaccagni; Castellanos
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Di Gregorio; Birindelli, Mari, Izzo, Kyriakopoulos; Bondo, Akpa Akpro; Colpani, Pessina, Maldini; Djuric
We say: Monza 1-2 Lazio
As Monza's home record is below-par, and they seem to be coasting towards the campaign's end, in-form Lazio can score more than once and take three points back to the capital.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
