Comovs.Lazio

The Biancocelesti have won four of five games this month - in Europe and Serie A - while their promoted hosts have endured a downturn.

Match preview

Having sat out Lazio's recent Europa League success against Twente because of a three-match ban, Dutch striker Tijjani Noslin partly redeemed his disciplinary lapse by setting them on the road to victory over Genoa last weekend.

Following his first-half strike, the Biancocelesti sealed maximum points via late goals from Pedro and Matias Vecino, extending their splendid streak at Stadio Olimpico.

Lazio have now put together a 10-game unbeaten run in Serie A home games, while embellishing an overall record that has seen them thrive on two fronts.

Marco Baroni's men have won six of their last seven matches across all competitions - scoring 17 goals at an average of 2.4 per game - taking nine points from nine in the Europa League and keeping pace with Italy's top six.

Furthermore, the capital club could now record three successive clean sheets for the first time in 2024, suggesting that Baroni is set to win over the critics that loudly doubted his appointment.

However, he still has one weakness to fix: Lazio are far less of a force on their travels, having lost three of four Serie A away fixtures this season.

When Como last hosted Lazio in the top flight, back in November 2002, current Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone was on target for the Biancocelesti, which demonstrates just how long they have waited to mix with Calcio's elite.

Following their promotion as second-tier runners-up last season, the Lariani have accrued nine points so far - five more than at this stage of their last stay in Serie A.

However, after enjoying successive 3-2 wins, they have since lost two of their last three games and drawn the other, most recently suffering a 1-0 defeat to Torino.

Cesc Fabregas will therefore be glad to return home to Stadio Sinigaglia, where Como are unbeaten this term, as the former Arsenal midfielder plots a course for top-flight survival.

Hovering just above the drop zone, his team have yet to record a single clean sheet, and finally doing so against in-form Lazio may be a little too much to ask.

Como Serie A form:

D

W

W

L

D

L

Lazio Serie A form:

W

L

W

W

L

W

Lazio form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

W

W

Team News

As Lazio can welcome back defensive leader Alessio Romagnoli from suspension, either Patric or Mario Gila must make way - the latter picked up a knock at the weekend but has since been declared fit.

Only right-back Manuel Lazzari is sidelined by injury, so Marco Baroni has plenty of scope to rotate his squad if desired, having frequently made wholesale changes in Europe.

Regular left-back Nuno Tavares is thriving after being handed a sustained run of starts: his tally of seven assists is only equalled by Bukayo Saka across Europe's top five leagues, and the last defender to have managed more in a single Serie A season was Achraf Hakimi (eight in 2020-21).

Meanwhile, Como are expected to stick with Alieu Fadera, Gabriel Strefezza, rising star Nico Paz and top scorer Patrick Cutrone in the final third on Thursday.

Cutrone and Strefezza are two of three players who have started all nine league matches for the Lariani this season, alongside Spanish full-back Alberto Moreno.

The latter's compatriot Sergi Roberto is struggling with a thigh strain and may make way for Luca Mazzitelli in midfield, while Belgian defender Ignace Van der Brempt is ruled out.

Como possible starting lineup:

Audero; Iovine, Kempf, Dossena, Moreno; Mazzitelli, Perrone; Strefezza, Paz, Fadera; Cutrone

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Rovella, Guendouzi; Noslin, Dia, Zaccagni; Castellanos

We say: Como 1-2 Lazio

While Como have competed well in the top flight, Lazio are heading for Lombardy in peak form and boasting a goal-hungry attack.

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