Spezia vs Lazio

Lazio’s unrelenting effort to secure Champions League football continues at the Stadio Alberto Picco as they take on relegation-battling Spezia in a lopsided Serie A contest.

Despite coming into this round winless in their last three Serie A matches (D2, L1), Spezia can draw confidence from knocking high-flying Fiorentina down from a nine-game winning streak with a 1-1 away draw last time out. However, the hosts still have to frantically look over their shoulders as they start this round only four points clear of 18th-placed Hellas Verona after racking up just one victory in ten Serie A games (D4, L5). On a more positive note, ‘I Aquilotti’ haven’t lost any of their last three home league outings under new boss Leonardo Semplici (W1, D2), including a stunning 2-1 win over Lazio’s fellow top-four bidders Inter Milan. Yet their track record against Lazio cannot inspire much confidence, with Spezia losing all five Serie A H2Hs against ‘I Biancocelesti’ since earning top-flight promotion in 2020.

On the other hand, visiting Lazio furthered their pursuit of a first top-four finish in Serie A since 2019/20 with a morale-boosting 2-1 home triumph over Juventus last time out, making it three league wins on the trot. Seven points clear of fifth-placed Inter at the start of this round, the visitors touch down in Spezia unbeaten in their last seven top-flight fixtures (W6, D1), notably recording six clean sheets in that span. Speaking of Lazio’s newly-discovered defensive prowess, they haven’t conceded on their last five Serie A travels and could make it five straight shutouts in away top-flight action for the first time since 1998. Particularly robust in the opening stages, they’ve only conceded five first-half goals in 29 Serie A rounds this term!