Serie A title chasers Lazio missed a great opportunity to move within two points of league leaders Juventus in midweek. The Biancocelesti could only draw nil-nil with Hellas Verona and now sit four points behind Juventus.
Lazio are a legitimate Serie A title hopeful but need to get back to winning ways on Sunday to have any hope of catching Juventus.
They will head to the Stadio Ennio Tardini to play seventh-placed Parma on Sunday evening. The game will kick off almost 24 hours after Juventus play Hellas Verona on Saturday night. The pressure will be dialled up. Lazio could move into second place with a victory and Inter Milan loss to AC Milan on Sunday night.
Parma won’t be pushovers after gaining four points from six possible. The Gialloblu are level on points with sixth-placed Cagliari and could achieve Europa League qualification this term.
Seven points separate Parma from the top four and it is unlikely Roberto D’Aversa’s team can qualify for the Champions League.
Parma are unbeaten in three straight home matches taking seven points from nine possible. Lazio are unbeaten in six straight away fixtures. Their draw with Roma in the Eternal City Derby ended a run of five straight wins on the road. Of course, Lazio and Roma share the Stadio Olimpico.
Lazio striker Ciro Immobile is in the form of his life and is the top striker in Europe’s top leagues. Immobile has bagged 25 goals and accounted for 48% of Lazio’s scoring. The striker has scored six more goals than Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo.
The previous match between Parma and Lazio this season was won by the latter. Lazio won 2-0 with goals coming in both halves. Immobile opened the scoring in the eighth minute and Adam Marusic doubled the lead in the 67th minute.
Lazio have to deal with expectations increasing amongst the fanbase and club. Can they keep pace and deal with the pressure of needing to win games? Lazio’s Coppa Italia win in 2018-19 was a step in the right direction showing the growth of the team under coach Simone Inzaghi.
Since Parma were promoted in 2018, they have lost three straight games to Lazio. That trend will continue this weekend with Lazio picking up a vital win in the title race. Expect Lazio to leave the Stadio Ennio Tardini with a win to nil and under 2.5 goals.