Lazio v Hellas Verona – Preview: On-fire Aquile look to continue run against resurgent Gialloblu

Date: 20th March 2015 at 12:06pm
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Lazio host Hellas Verona on Sunday evening at the Stadio Olimpico as they aim to continue their red-hot form and make a Champions League spot their own as the season enters its home-stretch.

Lazio are arguably the form side in the competition, having won their last five matches straight, with their two most impressive performances coming in the last two games against Fiorentina and Torino. A Luca Toni-inspired Verona, unbeaten in four, will have their work cut out despite themselves being in some good form of their own, their latest was an impressive 2-0 home win against Napoli last weekend.

Recent meetings between the two sides have been pretty even, with two wins, two draws and two losses in their past six meetings. The earlier clash this season ended in a 1-1 draw, after a Toni penalty cancelled out Senad Lulic’s first-half effort.

Lazio are expected to keep the same team that has served them so well recently. Exciting Brazilian Felipe Anderson and captain Antonio Candreva are establishing themselves as the most dangerous wing-duo in the competition, with the former in particular in truly sparkling form as of late. Filip Djordjevic is still ruled out with a knee injury, but veteran goal-sneak Miroslav Klose – himself in superb form as well – will continue to deputize for the Serbian. On-loan Mauricio will continue to partner Stefan De Vrij in the heart of the defense, beating out Lorik Cana.

Verona will have to make two enforced changes from the impressive victory against Napoli. Jacopo Sala and Juanito Gomez are out serving suspensions; so Leandro Greco and Eros Pisano will win their spots back. Toni, fresh from scoring twice against the Partonopei, now has seven goals in his past six games and is the man that needs to be on form once again if Verona are to get anything from this game.

Form Guide: Lazio (L-W-W-W-W-W) Hellas Verona (L-L-D-W-D-W)

Expected Starting XIs

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

Hellas Verona: Benussi; Pisano, Rodriguez, Moras, Brivio; Obbadi, Tachtsidis, Greco; Hallfredsson, Jankovic, Toni.

 

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