Lazio vs Sampdoria

Stadio Olimpico forms the backdrop for a lopsided Serie A contest between top-four hopefuls Lazio and hot relegation candidates Sampdoria.

A goalless draw at CFR Cluj in the return leg of their Europa Conference League knockout playoff tie fired Lazio into the competition’s round of 16, where they’ll meet AZ Alkmaar, thanks to a 1-0 aggregate win. But Lazio’s current situation in Serie A isn’t as bright, with last weekend’s 2-0 triumph at Salernitana snapping their underwhelming three-match winless league run (D2, L1) and keeping them within a two-point distance of fourth-placed Milan. Consistency has been in short supply for Maurizio Sarri’s side of late, with none of their last eight home league outings replicating identical outcomes twice in a row (W3, D3, L2). Sampdoria’s visit to the capital could be just what the doctor ordered for ‘I Biancocelesti,’ as they’ve not lost any of their last 16 top-flight H2Hs at the Olimpico (W13, D3).

On the other hand, under-fire Sampdoria boss Dejan Stankovic salvaged his job with a stunning 0-0 home draw against runners-up Inter Milan last time out, but he’s yet to weather the storm. Stuck eight points adrift of safety, the visitors head into proceedings winless in their last seven Serie A matches (D2, L5). Indeed, Sampdoria’s woeful tally of 11 points after 23 games stands as the club’s worst-ever start to a new top-flight campaign, highlighting Stankovic’s precarious position. The main highlight of Stankovic’s faltering tenure is a lack of goals, with ‘La Samp’ netting only seven times in 15 Serie A fixtures under his stewardship. Only Bundesliga basement boys Schalke (4) have scored fewer in that sequence in Europe’s top-five leagues.