Lazio vs Juventus
This is undoubtedly one of the Serie A clashes of the season but one which sees both sides well adrift in the standings as we approach the completion of the first third of the league campaign.
That Lazio are in fifth place in the standings and only one point adrift of a Champions League berth shows they are very much in the area many pundits and fans expected especially following the blow of losing manager Simone Inzaghi to reigning champions Inter Milan this summer.
That multiple champions Juventus are in eighth spot with a goal difference of +1 – granted, they can move level with Lazio if they beat them in Rome this weekend – is more of a surprise especially as they welcomed back Max Allegri into the Turin hotseat this summer.
Although it is still fairly early, it does appear both these clubs will not be able to mount a championship challenge in 2021/22 – or could events in the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday teatime be the trigger for a sustained run of form?
The main team news centres on the hosts’ frontman.
How they must wish they could call upon Ciro Immobile who has reportedly sustained a low-level lesion to his calf so he’ll miss this encounter and remains a doubt for their meeting with his hometown club Napoli the following weekend.
The centre-forward pulled out of international duty with Italy for the World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Northern Ireland due to a soleus muscle issue.
According to Sky Sport Italia, the swelling and bruising have now subsided enough for tests to show a low-level lesion to the left calf muscle.
The 31-year-old hitman has scored 11 goals and provided two assists in 15 competitive games this season between Serie A and the Europa League.
Of course, this is a reunion for Maurizio Sarri who helped the Old Lady win the Scudetto 18 months ago before Inter surpassed the Bianconeri last season.
In Immobile’s absence, the Aquile coach may turn his attentions to Pedro, who joined Lazio on a free transfer from Roma over the summer.
For Juve, their main team news also surrounds the fitness of a frontman in Paulo Dybala after he sustained a calf injury on international duty.
Despite the Italian national team slipping up in Northern Ireland and now needing to navigate a play-off next spring to reach the 2022 World Cup, Italian football appears in good health.
In fact, I find the top-flight one of the most exciting leagues in Europe right now with Serie A 2021 highlights aplenty.
Lazio are great to watch, although not title winners.
On saying that, the team I tipped at the start of the campaign in Juventus certainly aren’t.
Yet after scraping a win against Fiorentina last time out,, could this be the moment they remind Italian football it is foolish to rule them out completely?
History
There have been special times in this fixture for Lazio and their fans.
One such victory was in Turin in 2017 when a double from Immobile ended the then champions’ unbeaten start to the season.
However, Juve have won five and drawn one of their last seven league meetings.
This fixture last term ended level pegging when the home side were spared defeat by a last minute equaliser from Felipe Caicedo after Cristiano Ronaldo had put Juventus ahead.
It was a different return fixture as Joaquin Correa’s opener was rendered a consolation when Juve fought back to win 3-1 through Adrien Rabiot and an Alvaro Morata double.
Lazio have never managed a league double over the ‘Old Lady’ of Turin, although did beat them in both the Italian Super Cup finals of 2017 and 2019.
Overall, Juventus have 92 wins in all competitions with Lazio tasting success on 43 occasions and a further 41 draws.
Betting Tip
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Lazio vs Juventus | 1X2 Draw @ 3.30 |
| November 21, 1:00 (GMT+8) |
Despite Lazio holding a three-point advantage over Juventus, the visitors have the edge with the SBOTOP Serie A 2021 betting odds.
The hosts can be tipped First Half 1X2 @ 3.40, First Half Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.08, 1X2 @ 2.75, and Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.17.
Juventus, meanwhile, have the edge when you look at First Half 1X2 @ 3.00, First Half Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.51, 1X2 @ 2.47, and Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.47.
If you decide to opt for a re-run of last season’s 1-1 draw, then Correct Score will pay out @ 5.60.
For a match with a fair few goals, then how about over 3.00 goals @ 2.31 or total goal 2-3 @ 1.96?
I am going to sit on the fence with this one and opt for a draw.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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