Cagliarivs.Lazio

Beaten at home and in Europe, the Biancocelesti are now intent on retaining a top-four place, while their hosts are simply aiming to avoid relegation.

Match preview

Following a run of five consecutive victories, Lazio have failed to win six of their last nine league matches, most recently losing at home to 10-man Fiorentina.

Despite having an extra player for most of the second half, Marco Baroni's men could not break through until a stoppage-time strike by Adam Marusic that proved too late to get them back into the contest.

Then, on Thursday night, the Biancocelesti wrapped up their league-phase campaign in the Europa League with a 1-0 defeat in Braga - albeit their knockout place had already been booked with two rounds remaining.

In spite of suffering their first continental loss of the season, Lazio still topped the table and swept straight through to the last 16 without needing a playoff.

With four weeks to go until a Coppa Italia quarter-final against Inter Milan, swiftly followed by their return to Europe, the Rome club can now concentrate fully on the league.

Unbeaten in 19 Serie A matches against Cagliari - winning 16 times and averaging 2.3 goals per game in the process - history will weigh heavily on their side in Sardinia.

In fact, Lazio could now set a new club record, having never posted a longer run without defeat against any opponent in their top-flight history - they also managed 19 against Inter, between 1996 and 2005.

In addition to a 2-1 loss in November's reverse fixture at Stadio Olimpico, Cagliari have lost each of their last five home matches against Lazio by an aggregate score of 12-3.

Though the Isolani have accrued seven points from their last four matches, keeping them just above the drop zone, the odds are therefore stacked against claiming any more on Monday.

After last week's 2-0 away defeat to Torino, Cagliari have lost nine games without scoring in Italy's top tier this season, and no team has done so on more occasions.

With only two clean sheets kept so far, their defensive record is no better, and a weakness at set pieces will be of particular concern for coach Davide Nicola - a proven past master in terms of securing Serie A survival.

No side has conceded more goals from dead-ball situations (14), while Lazio have scored 13 - only fewer than Inter.

Furthermore, Cagliari have been beaten in five of 11 home games this season, which is already just one defeat fewer than through the whole of last season, when they only stayed up by a whisker.

Cagliari Serie A form:

L

L

W

D

W

L

Lazio Serie A form:

W

D

L

D

W

L

Lazio form (all competitions):

L

D

W

W

L

L

Team News

Lazio made several changes in midweek, as Marco Baroni always rotates his squad for Europa League fixtures, and Serie A regulars Nicolo Rovella and Mattia Zaccagni were both suspended.

Furthermore, Matteo Guendouzi was replaced by Spanish centre-back Mario Gila in midfield, but the France international is expected to recover from an illness and should start in Sardinia.

Full-backs Nuno Tavares and Manuel Lazzari will again join Patric and Matias Vecino on the sidelines due to injury.

Meanwhile, Cagliari's sole concern regards Zito Luvumbo, who has yet to return from an ankle problem that has ruled him out of six games so far.

Despite interest from other clubs, the Rossoblu have held on to Razvan Marin: he has been directly involved in five Serie A goals this season, four of which have come as a substitute.

Once again, the Romanian midfielder will fight it out with Alessandro Deiola, Michel Adopo and Antoine Makoumbou for selection in the hosts' engine room.

Cagliari possible starting lineup:

Caprile; Zappa, Mina, Luperto, Obert; Zortea, Deiola, Marin, Felici; Gaetano; Piccoli

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen, Dia, Zaccagni; Castellanos

We say: Cagliari 1-3 Lazio

Curiously, Lazio are the only side yet to draw away from home in Serie A - an unprecedented record for the capital club at this stage of a season.

That run should continue, as they will have the bit between their teeth after successive defeats, while Cagliari are often found wanting at both ends of the pitch.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by

Jonathan O'Shea

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