Serie A: Lazio and Fiorentina Can Produce Monday Magic

Lazio vs Fiorentina

Monday night football has thrown up a cracker of a game, when all roads lead to Rome for the big match: Serie A: Lazio vs Fiorentina.

Ninth placed Lazio are on the up after a disappointing start to the campaign, winning nine points from their last four league games, including a 2-0 win over Sassuolo last week; and they are closing in on Fiorentina, who are four points ahead in fifth place, but La Viola suffered a shock loss at home to Empoli last week.

These two clubs had contrasting fortunes in Europe this week though.

Lazio head coach Maurizio Sarri needs to pick his side up after they went down to a shock 3-1 defeat away to Feyenoord, a result which leaves them third in Group E, a group which they should really emerge from in the top two. But they still have work to do. Meanwhile Vincenzo Italiano’s Fiorentina battered Cukaricki Belgrade 6-0 to go top of Europa Conference League F.

The Lazio vs Fiorentina betting odds say we have a superb match in prospect with some iconic figures on show, Lazio’s Ciro Immobile and Fiorentina’s Giacomo Bonaventura, so let’s take a closer look at the two teams.

Talking Points

Lazio have found their feet in Serie A

A baffling defeat away to Feyenoord has put the skids on a promising run for Lazio and Sarri has issued a rallying call to his troops, asking them to turn things around quickly and take more calculated risks than they did in a lacklustre display in the Netherlands. Lazio were never at the races as Feyenoord raced into a 3-0 lead with Pedro nicking a late consolation from the penalty spot.

After finishing second last season Lazio fans hoped their team could make the next step but a poor start left them wondering just how far they might fall; but Sarri is a warrior and he has some experienced campaigners in his team.  Immobile has been one of the best strikers in Italy in a decade, winning four Capocannonieres and he is the eighth highest scorer in Serie A history. Two goals represent a slow start for Immobile, but as his team progresses then so will he.

Luis Alberto, with three goals and one assist, has made a strong start and he was on target in Lazio’s 2-0 win over Sassuolo last week. The other goal was scored by 30 year old Brazilian winger Felipe Anderson, and he has just entered negotiations to extend his current contract at the Stadio Olimpico.

Lazio went into the international break on the back of an impressive 3-2 win over top four hopefuls Atalanta, and that’s the type of result to give their fans real hope.

Gonzalez has star quality

Fiorentina have produced some world class talents over the years, most recently Juan Cuadrado, Dusan Vlahovic and Federico Chiesa. And now La Viola has unearthed another gem.

Nicolas Gonzalez has five goals already this season; only Lautauro Martinez and Victor Osimhen have scored more, and the Argentine winger is one of the first names on the Fiorentina team-sheet. He has five goals in 25 caps for Argentina and 18 in 64 for La Viola. Gonzalez is currently rated at over £50m and Liverpool, among other clubs, are reported to be tracking his progress. At 25 year of age he is very marketable and Fiorentina may be tempted to cash in at the end of the season. But, for now, Italiano wants Gonzalez to ensure his team wins European football again.

Reigning champions Napoli thought they could wipe away their early season troubles when they met La Viola recently, but they were pulled apart by Fiorentina and tormented by Gonzalez, who scored the third in a 3-1 win, while Bonaventura was on target too, and that made it four goals and two assists for the skipper. 

Defeat to Empoli was a damaging interruption to a great start to the campaign for La Viola and they will be keen to wipe that memory away on Monday.

History

With 34 victories to 13 in the head to head Lazio vs Fiorentina results, I Biancoceleste have enjoyed this fixture over the years, and La Viola have failed to win on their last eight visits to the Stadio Olimpico, though last season they picked up a 1-1 draw as Gonzalez hit a peach of a strike to share the points.

There isn’t much to choose between the teams in terms of recent form as Lazio have won four and lost two of the last six games, while Fiorentina have won three, drawn two and lost one.

Betting Tip

Lazio are marginal favourites, at SBOTOP odds of 2.28, to win this game, with Fiorentina at 2.71; and I think these two in-form sides will cancel each other out. For an alterative bet, under 2.50 goals is at 1.87.

 

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