Lazio recorded a morale-boosting 3-0 win in the Rome Derby to extend their winning run to three matches, so the home side head into this cup clash full of confidence. Parma secured a decent point away at Sassuolo at the weekend but remain in the relegation places.
Lazio have won each of the last nine meetings between these two clubs in league and cup, securing a 2-0 win at Parma in Serie A a little over a week ago.
The hosts have scored at least two goals in four of their last five games against Parma, while the visitors haven’t scored more than one goal against Lazio since 2014.
As you might expect, Lazio head into this Coppa Italia tie as the clear form favourites, winning four of their last six matches Parma arrive in the capital in the midst of a torrid run of form that has produced five defeats and one draw from their last six outings.
Over 2.5 goals have been scored in three of Lazio’s last five matches as well as in four of Parma’s last six fixtures, suggesting that Thursday’s match will feature goals.
Both teams have scored in three of Lazio’s last five matches and although Parma haven’t scored a lot of goals of late, they did net one against Sassuolo last time out. The visitors have nothing to lose on Thursday as they aren’t expected to go much further in this competition, and that might aid their performance.
Danilo Cataldi and Mohamed Fares have muscle strains, Thomas Strakosha has a thigh injury and all three are expected to miss Thursday’s game against Parma. The visitors look set to be without the injured Pezzella, Osono, Karamoh, Gagliolo and Scozzarella for the trip to Lazio.
Parma will give it a good go on Thursday as this isn’t the league and they have nothing to lose, but they do have a fair amount of injuries right now and their concentration has to be on survival ahead of a cup run.
Form and history both point towards a home win for Lazio on Thursday and given the fact that the hosts have scored exactly two goals in four of their last six fixtures, a 2-1 win could well be on the cards.