Lazio are set to host Napoli in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final tie on Wednesday night at the Stadio Olimpico.
The Biancocelesti started off their Coppa Italia run in the third round by defeating Bassano Virtus 7-0, before going on to claim victories over Varese, Torino, and AC Milan to book themselves a place in the the last four.
Napoli on the other hand played two games less than the capital club, having started their journey in the Round of 16. The reigning champions’ journey though has been far from easy; first off they needed a penalty shootout to progress past Udinese after 120 minutes finished 2-2, before going on defeat Inter in injury time thanks to Gonzalo Higuain, thus ensure progression to the semi-finals.
Both sides are definitely not strangers when it comes to facing each other in the Coppa Italia, having met in the quarter-finals last season. The Partenopei were able to decide the tie eight minutes from time courtesy of a volley from Higuain.
The Partenopei have also had the advantage in terms of head-to-head recently, with Lazio’s last win coming in April 2012, when they overcame Napoli 3-1 at the Stadio Olimpico. Since then, the Neapolitans have claimed five wins out of six, one coming as recently as mid-January when Higuain once again put through the Biancocelesti net to secure all three points for Rafael Benitez’s men.
Despite enduring a defeat to Torino on Sunday night, Napoli have been in fine form of recent with only two losses in their last 10 games in all competitions. On the other hand, Lazio have recovered after succumbing to back-to-back defeats at the hands of Cesena and Genoa, picking up three wins from three.
Stefano Pioli enters the game with a myriad absences. Lorik Cana is suspended, whilst Filip Djordjevic, Senad Lulic, Stefano Mauri, Bruno Pereirinha, and Santiago Gentiletti are all out due to injury.
On the other hand, Napoli will only miss the services of Michu, Lorenzo Insigne, and Juan Camilo Zuniga due to injury.
Form Guide: Lazio (W-L-L-W-W-W) Napoli (W-L-W-W-W-L)
Expected Starting XIs
Lazio (4-3-3): Berisha; Basta, De Vrij, Mauricio, Radu; Parolo, Ledesma, Onazi; Candreva, Klose, Felipe Anderson.
Napoli (4-2-3-1): Andujar; Henrique, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam; Jorginho, David Lopez; Gabbiadini, De Guzman, Mertens; Higuain
