Serie A | Gameweek 12

Nov 10, 2024 at 5pm UK

U-Power Stadium

Monzavs.Lazio

Match preview

Lazio have won their last three league matches, scoring 10 goals in the process. They found the net at least twice in each match, and the momentum is building behind Marco Baroni's Roman revolution.

After letting a lead slip against Cagliari last week, captain Mattia Zaccagni stepped up to the spot and converted a 76th-minute penalty at Stadio Olimpico. Another victory moved his team to within three points of league leaders Napoli.

Nine of Lazio's goals this season have come during the final 15 minutes, more than any other team in Serie A. And evergreen forward Pedro extended that trend to continental competition in midweek.

Once again, Lazio were the ones in the lead, but they conceded an equaliser against Porto. The Spanish star, who is 37, scored late on, making it four wins from four in the Europa League.

Lazio are the only team with a perfect record, sitting at the top of the 36-team standings at the halfway stage and on course for a place in the knockout rounds.

On top of scoring freely in Europe, Baroni's team have racked up 24 goals at home, second only to Inter Milan and Atalanta BC. That puts them third for the club in terms of goals at this stage of a top-flight campaign.

Given these stats are being posted by their counterparts from the capital, Monza may be fearful of playing host to Lazio – particularly as history also stands against them.

So far, the Brianzoli have been beaten in nine Serie A matches against the two Roman clubs and haven't even kept a clean sheet. They did draw both games against the Biancocelesti last season though.

More recently, Alessandro Nesta's side have lost their last two matches without scoring, following a controversial 1-0 defeat to neighbours AC Milan last week.

Nesta was really annoyed by the decision to disallow what looked like a perfectly valid Dany Mota goal. The resulting media uproar backed up his point. However, he'll now be playing against another club from his illustrious playing days, with Monza currently in the drop zone.

It's been a tough run for the Biancorossi, with 10 straight losses at home in Serie A since March. But they've had some success in the Coppa Italia, winning a couple of matches at U-Power Stadium to make it to the last 16. This Sunday, they'll face a tough challenge to end that streak.

Recent Performance

Monza Serie A form:

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Lazio Serie A form:

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Lazio form (all competitions):

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Team News

Manuel Lazzari is back from injury and Tijjani Noslin is good to go after serving a UEFA ban, so Marco Baroni should have an almost full squad to choose from this weekend.

Gaetano Castrovilli is out until 2025, but aside from that, the team is in good shape. Lazio's head coach should be able to make some changes after an intense schedule on two fronts.

Boulaye Dia might be back in the starting XI, having been directly involved in three goals in his last two Serie A matches. The Senegal international has already matched his entire output last season with four league goals in 2024-25.

Meanwhile, another former Salernitana striker, Milan Djuric, who made his Serie A debut against Lazio back in 2014, scored two goals for Monza in this equivalent fixture last season.

I think he'll start up front for the hosts, with support from Daniel Maldini and Dany Mota. But there's plenty of competition for his place – Gianluca Caprari and Samuele Vignato are alternative options.

There are still quite a few players out of action at Brianzoli: Alessio Cragno, Omari Forson, Stefano Sensi and Roberto Gagliardini are all out with injuries, and it looks like Andrea Petagna could be joining them.

Possible starting lineups

Monza possible starting lineup:

Turati; Izzo, Mari, Carboni; Pereira, Pessina, Bondo, Kyriakopoulos; Mota, Maldini; Djuric

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Provedel; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Rovella, Guendouzi; Isaksen, Dia, Zaccagni; Castellanos