Venezia host Lazio on Serie A matchday 19 as the Italian top flight heads into the Christmas break. The hosts are just above the relegation zone as seven points separate Venezia from the Serie A’s bottom three.
Lazio head into matchday 19 in eighth place. Three points separate Lazio from the top five and a win could send the Biancocelesti into a European qualification position.
Venezia are unbeaten in back-to-back matches in Serie A. Both of those fixtures ended as draws. Lazio are coming off of a 3-1 win against Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico.
Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri is facing plenty of pressure at the Roman club. Sarri has failed to provide consistent football at Lazio. The team has posted a record of 8W-4D-6L this season. It hasn’t been the strong, consistent winning football many expected when Sarri was hired.
Venezia are having a strong season back in Serie A. They have taken 17 points from 18 matches in Serie A play. The Winged Lions have benefitted from the poor play of the teams beneath them in the Serie A standings.
The home side took five points from the last 18 points on offer in the league. They were outscored 12-6 by their last six opponents. Venezia have won just twice in eight matches at home this term. They are –3 in goal difference at home.
Lazio picked up seven points from the last 18 points available. They were outscored 14-11 across those six matches. Lazio have won just twice in nine road matches this term. The Biancocelesti have conceded 20 goals on the road in 2021-22.
Sarri has just one player on the Lazio injury list going into the match. Bobby Adekanye has missed recent games due to a meniscus injury and it is likely the forward will miss out once more.
Venezia coach Paolo Zanetti is likely to be without striker David Okereke. The striker has scored four goals this season, the second-most scores for Venezia. The Winged Lions are led in goals by Mattia Aramu with five goals.
These teams have not played in 20 seasons of Serie A football. Although Lazio are in poor road form, the Biancocelesti should pick up a win versus Venezia on the road. These teams should both score and combine for more than 2.5 goals.
Lazio have conceded 33 times this season, while Venezia have allowed 31 goals. These rivals should combine for more than 2.5 goals as the scoring flies into the back of the net.