Laziovs.Empoli

Three wins from four have kept the Rome club in touch with Italy's top six, while the visitors travel to Stadio Olimpico with their Serie A status in serious danger.

Match preview

On course to claim a place in Europe, thanks to their recent revival under new management, Lazio sit seventh in the Serie A standings, trailing Atalanta BC and city rivals Roma by six points with three games to play.

Though they dropped points in Monza last week - when goals from Ciro Immobile and Matias Vecino were only good enough for a draw after the hosts scored a stoppage-time equaliser - the Biancocelesti boast an impressive record since Igor Tudor took charge at the end of March.

Following Tudor's return to Italy, Lazio have recorded four wins from six league matches - as many as in the previous 10 - also keeping three clean sheets in the process.

During that time, they have posted four home wins on the spin - including a vain Coppa Italia victory over Juventus - and have turned Stadio Olimpico into a formidable fortress once more.

As a result of their upturn, Lazio are well placed for at least a place in the Europa Conference League, but finishing fifth would secure a second successive Champions League campaign.

Tudor's side must yet face new champions Inter Milan and struggling Sassuolo, but first they will try to get back on track against Empoli, who they have beaten in both of the teams' last two meetings without conceding a single goal.

Empoli's top-flight future remains in jeopardy ahead of their weekend trip to the capital, but if they are to cause an upset and take some precious points back to Tuscany, then a new page in club history will have to be written.

The Azzurri have never beaten Lazio away from home in Serie A, after 13 previous attempts - losing nine times and recording four draws along the way.

Recent form suggests that Davide Nicola's men may find it tough to overcome such precedent, as they have now failed to score in seven of their last nine matches, following last week's goalless draw at home to fellow strugglers Frosinone.

Since the beginning of March, Empoli have fired more blanks than any other team across Europe's top five leagues, but they have somehow managed to keep their heads above water, sitting two points clear of the drop zone in 17th place.

Nicola - a renowned survival specialist, who has kept several other ailing clubs afloat after arriving mid-season - has proved unable to improve his side's resilience on the road, as Empoli have lost without scoring in all of their last four away fixtures.

Lazio Serie A form:

W

L

W

W

W

D

Lazio form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

W

D

Empoli Serie A form:

L

W

L

W

L

D

Team News

A potential defensive crisis for Lazio boss Igor Tudor has been averted, as Nicolo Casale and Patric have both returned to training, while Spanish centre-back Mario Gila may be ready to take a place on the bench.

First-choice goalkeeper Ivan Provedel is also fit again, but Tudor has indicated that Christos Mandas will keep his place against Empoli, with Provedel's comeback pencilled in for next week against Inter.

Once again, captain Ciro Immobile vies with Taty Castellanos to spearhead the hosts' front line - neither has reached double figures in Serie A this season.

Empoli, meanwhile, are still without Alberto Cerri (thigh), Tyronne Ebuehi (knee) and Sebastian Walukiewicz (flexor) due to injury.

With Cerri sidelined, M'Baye Niang is set to retain his place up front, with veteran striker Francesco Caputo a likely candidate to make an impact from the bench.

The visitors' back three should feature a man boasting the most minutes played among Serie A defenders this season: ever-present centre-back Sebastiano Luperto has clocked up 3,150 minutes so far.

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Provedel; Patric, Romagnoli, Casale; Marusic, Guendouzi, Kamada, Zaccagni; Anderson, Alberto; Immobile

Empoli possible starting lineup:

Caprile; Bereszynski, Luperto, Ismajli; Gyasi, Marin, Grassi, Pezzella; Fazzini, Cambiaghi; Niang

We say: Lazio 2-0 Empoli

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