Lazio v Fiorentina – Preview: Champions League chasers clash

Date: 6th March 2015 at 2:23pm
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Lazio host Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico in the early evening match on Monday in Serie A with both sides competing for Champions League qualification.

Only one point separates the two sides in fourth and fifth place after 25 rounds as both look to overtake Napoli for third place.

The Biancocelesti have lost only two of their last 11 games against the Viola in Serie A, although they are without a win in their last two meetings in the Italian capital.

However, Lazio have a strong head to head record against their opponents at the Olimpico over the last 20 years and have also scored 171 goals in the top flight against Fiorentina, more than against any other side.

Since Pierluigi Casiraghi scored four goals in an incredible 8-2 victory on March 5 1995, the Aquile have won 10 out of their 17 meetings against Fiorentina at home.

Fiorentina have failed to score a single goal in their last three Serie A games against the Biancocelesti, but will be confident of breaching their defence on Monday after finding the net 26 times over 14 matches in all competitions since the start of 2015.

Mohamed Salah has been in sensational form since arriving on-loan from Chelsea and scored twice in the 2-1 victory in the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg against Juventus on Thursday, as the Florentines became the first side to win at the Juventus Stadium since April 2013.

Lazio have a lengthy injury list including Senad Lulic, Santiago Gentiletti, Lorik Cana, Abdoulay Konko, Michael Ciani, Bruno Pereirinha, Mamadou Tounkara and Filip Djordjevic.

Captain Stefano Mauri dislocated a toe during the 3-0 win away at Sassuolo last Sunday, while Marco Parolo is suspended after reaching the yellow card limit.

Federico Marchetti also took a knock to his foot at the Mapei Stadium, and was rested as a precaution for the 1-1 draw in the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg against Napoli on Wednesday.

Fiorentina have a number of injuries with Ciprian Tatarusanu, Nenad Tomovic, Stefan Savic and Khouma Babacar unavailable, while Giuseppe Rossi and Federico Bernardeschi are long-term absentees.

David Pizarro is expected to return from injury, but Alberto Aquilani is suspended having received his fourth yellow card in Serie A this season in the 1-0 win at Inter last weekend.

Form Guide: Lazio (W-L-L-W-W-W) Fiorentina (D-D-W-W-D-W)

Expected Starting XIs

Lazio: Marchetti; Basta, De Vrij, Mauricio, Radu; Onazi, Biglia, Cataldi; Candreva, Klose, Felipe Anderson.

Fiorentina: Neto; Richards, Rodriguez, Basanta, Pasqual; Matias Fernandez, Pizarro, Borja Valero; Salah, Gomez, Joaquin.

 

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