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Lazio Roma vs. FC Empoli
The Italian Serie A also resumes play this week and we can expect a Thursday packed with all Matchday 20 games. Between 12:30pm and 8:45pm all 10 games will take place, with the crowning glory between Juventus and Napoli. But there are also incredibly exciting matches in the afternoon, including the encounter between Lazio Roma and Empoli.
The visitors are the surprise team of the season and occupy 9th place with 27 points as a promoted team. They are right behind Lazio, who have 4 points more and can put further pressure on the European places with a win. They have won 3 of their last 4 games and should be accordingly confident on Thursday. How we rate the match between the two table neighbours, you can find out in this Lazio – Empoli tip.
Lazio – Empoli Info:
– Date & Time: 06.01.2022, 14:30 Uhr
– Venue: Olimpico (Rome)
– Competition: Serie A, Matchday 20
TV broadcast: In Livestream at DAZN
Lazio Form & Balance Check
For Lazio, it’s business as usual under coach Maurizio Sarri, just as it was under his predecessor Simone Inzaghi. They are going full steam ahead and after 19 games they have already scored 39 goals, the third most of any Serie A team. Once again, Ciro Immobie is a goalscoring threat as the Italian has accounted for a third of all goals scored with 13. Most recently, the Lazio striker and captain has been out with the Corona virus, but there is a good chance the 31-year-old will be back in action on Thursday.
European competition is the goal
Once again, the Romans have lacked consistency this season and as a result they are only in 8th place.However, the gap between them and the places in front is small and Juve are in 5th place with only 4 points more. Bergamo have another 3 points more, so the gap between Lazio and a Champions League place is currently 7 points. For them to get to these climes in the long run, the team needs to improve a bit defensively, because the defence suffers under the great attack and Lazio Roma has the sixth weakest defence in the league.
Lazio facts & analysis
– Last time out they won twice in a row
– Top scorer is Immobile with 13 goals
– Lazio are the second strongest home team in the league
Empoli form & balance check
Empoli are doing the best of all the promoted teams so far and are currently in the top half of the table. They have a large lead over the relegation places and will certainly have nothing to do with relegation this season. This is mainly due to Empoli’s extreme strength away from home, as the team has already scored 17 points away from home, which is incredibly strong for a promoted team. At home, on the other hand, they are not doing so well and are picking up an average of one point in their own stadium.
Is Empoli going to collapse again?
It has happened to quite a few promoted teams that they collapse after a good start to the season. But even if something like that happened to Empoli, it probably wouldn’t be that tragic, as the gap to the relegation places is already 16 points. Of course, the team must not rest on this success, but Empoli looks enormously consolidated and we are 99% sure that the promoted team will not run into relegation problems again.
Empoli facts & analysis
– They lost their last match against AC Milan (2:4).
– The top goalscorer is Pinamonti with 7 goals.
– 24 of the 34 goals Empoli have conceded have been at home
Predicted line-up – last update on 4 January 2022
For the home side, top striker Ciro Immobile is likely to return, but defensive pillar Acerbi is out. Radu could move to the centre, Hysaj would take over the left side of defence in his place. Luis Alberto is also an option in midfield after his last goal. Empoli will probably only make one or two changes. Offensively, Di Francesco is likely to start to put the Roman defence under pressure with his pace. At right back, we expect Marchizza to be in the starting eleven.
Lazio – Empoli direct comparison & stats
In 23 direct duels in Serie A, Lazio have left the pitch as winners 14 times. Empoli have only managed to do so four times, winning the first leg 3-1 in August. Empoli’s last win dates back to November 2015.
– Empoli have never won in Rome against Lazio
– Lazio have won all of their last 5 matches against Empoli.
– Empoli FC have not lost any of their last 4 away matches
