With time running out in the 2018/19 Serie A campaign, teams are running out of games to try and meet their objectives for the season. European qualification would have been discussed at Lazio and they still have an outside chance of making the Europa League this season.
On Saturday, they travel to Cagliari who are not mathematically safe from relegation in 12th place but know they should avoid the drop this season, regardless of their own results.
However, Cagliari will want to make sure they are mathematically safe and they can do that in style by winning this game. Despite having lost each of their last two matches, they were tough away assignments at Napoli and Roma, so Cagliari will not be too disheartened coming into this game.
Home form shows they are not easy to beat at the Sardegna Arena and they are undefeated in fifteen of their last eighteen home Serie A matches. That includes five wins in their last six and trends show Cagliari have scored 2 goals in four of those six games.
However, conceding goals has been a problem and Cagliari have failed to keep a clean sheet in seven of their last eight home league matches. In addition, both teams have scored in four of their last six on home soil.
Lazio make the trip to Sardinia having slipped up in their bid for European football next season thanks to a 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Atalanta last weekend. Having enjoyed two good away results at AC Milan and Sampdoria, the loss at home was a big setback.
League form is poor and trends show Lazio have won only two of their last seven Serie A games. There have been defeats to SPAL, AC Milan, Chievo and Atalanta during those seven games.
Away form has been very inconsistent and Lazio have won three, drawn one and lost four of their last eight on the road. They have kept a clean sheet in one of their last six away Serie A matches and have seen under 2.5 goals in four of their last five.
However, Lazio have a good record against Cagliari and are undefeated in their last nine league games.
Team news and Cagliari are without Paolo Pancrazio Farago, who is suspended. Alberto Cerri hopes to recover from illness in time to play and Fabrizio Cacciatore could also be in contention.
Lazio have two players suspended and both Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto will miss out. Valon Berisha is a doubt while Jordan Lukaku is out for the season.
Lazio need to win this game if they are to have any chance of finishing in the European places and away wins at Inter Milan and Sampdoria recently suggest they can do it. Cagliari have been difficult to beat at home but Lazio enjoy playing them and could come away with maximum points.