The Daily Star Ireland
AS Roma is having a challenging season, struggling to regain form after being knocked out of the title race. They are also falling behind in the Champions League race, as Lazio, currently in 4th place, holds a 15-point lead. Expectations for Roma were high after their strong finish last season, but their performance this year has not met those ambitions. Although they managed a solid 5-0 win over Parma and a draw against AC Milan after Christmas, the team’s inconsistent form has left them with much to improve. Still, they have reached the 1/8 finals of the Italian Cup with a 4-1 win over Sampdoria and remain in the Europa League, keeping their season alive in multiple competitions.
Meanwhile, Lazio is enjoying a much better campaign, sitting in 4th place as of this matchday, with a strong chance of qualifying for the Champions League. Led by key players such as Pedro, Castellanos, and Guendouzi, Lazio had a successful December, securing wins against Napoli in both the Italian Cup and Serie A, a strong 3-1 victory over Ajax in the Europa League, and a recent 1-2 win over Lecce in the league. Despite a late equalizer from Atalanta in their most recent match, Lazio has been in excellent form and is positioned well for the remainder of the season.
Roma’s squad is relatively healthy, with only Cristante out due to injury, while key players such as Dybala, Paredes, Angelino, Hummels, Ndicka, and Koné will all be available. Lazio, on the other hand, will be without a few key players, including Vecino, Pedro, Noslin, and Lazzari, but they still have a strong lineup with Castellanos, Guendouzi, Gigot, and Tchaouna contributing to the team’s success.
Prediction
Both teams have shown a tendency for low-scoring matches recently. Roma has had 19 out of their last 20 league games with fewer than 3.5 goals, and Lazio has experienced a similar trend in 17 of their last 20 away matches in Serie A. Given these patterns, it would be a surprise if this match deviated from that script.
Prediction: AS Roma 1 : 1 Lazio
