Lazio are coming off of an insane 4-4 draw with Udinese at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday night. The match saw eight goals, three red cards and an Udinese goal in the nineth minute of second half stoppage-time. It was wild to say the least.
Now, Maurizio Sarri’s Biancocelesti head to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris to face off with 15th-place Sampdoria. The Genovese club are coming off of a 3-1 loss at Fiorentina, marking their fourth loss in the last six Serie A matches.
Sampdoria and Udinese are separated by seven points in the table. A relegation fight is on Sampdoria coach Roberto D’Aversa’s hands. Only five points separate Sampdoria from the bottom three.
The good news for D’Aversa is that Sampdoria won this fixture last season, 3-0. Fabio Quagliarella, Tommaso Augello, and Mikkel Damsgaard scored the goals for the Blucerchiati. The win was a rare victory for Sampdoria when playing against Lazio, however.
Lazio are unbeaten in nine of their last 10 matches against Sampdoria with eight of those nine fixtures ending as wins. Four of those 10 games between the Serie A rivals ended as wins to nil.
Sampdoria took six points from the last 18 on offer in Serie A. They were outscored 12-8 during that six-match run. Lazio, on the other hand, took eight points from the last 18 available to them.
They scored 10 times and allowed 12 goals. Remember, they are coming off of a 4-4 draw with Udinese.
Lazio coach Sarri will be without Patric after he was sent off against Udinese in midweek. Forward Bobby Adekanye is a doubt following a meniscus injury.
Ciro Immobile scored his 11th goal of the Serie A season against Udinese and is now one behind league leader Dusan Vlahovic.
D’Aversa will be without the services of Omar Colley. He will serve a suspension. Meanwhile, Fabio Depaoli is a doubt with a muscle problem.
Ernesto Torregrossa and Ronaldo Vieira are both doubts due to their respective injuries. Mikkel Damsgaard is ruled out until January with a hamstring strain.
Sampdoria have taken eight points from 24 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris this season. They are –5 in goal different at home with 17 goals conceded. It is the second-most home goals allowed in Serie A.
Lazio have taken five points on the road this season and have failed to win any of their last six away matches. Sarri’s team is –10 in goal difference on the road. They have allowed 17 goals, the second-most away from home.
Despite Lazio’s poor away form, however, they have a great record against Sampdoria. Lazio are unbeaten in nine of 10 straight matches versus Sampdoria with eight finishing as wins.
Lazio should claim an away victory over Sampdoria on Sunday with over 2.5 goals scored.