Preview: Lazio vs. Atalanta BC - prediction, team news, lineups

Languishing in the bottom half of the Serie A standings after losing to Milan last weekend, Maurizio Sarri's men now welcome La Dea to Stadio Olimpico.

Match preview

Despite making a slow start to their Serie A campaign, two dramatic late goals have helped Lazio remain unbeaten in the Champions League this season: following Ivan Provedel's incredible equaliser against Atletico Madrid, Pedro popped up with a winner in Wednesday's visit to Glasgow.

Lazio had won just one of their previous 16 away games in Europe's top club competition before meeting Group E rivals Celtic, but Matias Vecino's 29th-minute goal ensured they went in level at half-time before Pedro snatched maximum points for the Biancocelesti.

Following their first Champions League victory outside of Rome for 20 years, Maurizio Sarri's side now return to a difficult domestic situation, which sees them mired at the wrong end of the Serie A standings with only seven points to their name.

Closer to the drop zone than the top six - and faring even worse than struggling rivals Roma - if Lazio lose against Atalanta, that would represent the capital club's worst start after eight games during the 21st century, so the pressure is on to deliver.

Last year's second-placed finish was built on a series of clean sheets, but Sarri watched on in frustration as his team conceded twice more in a 2-0 loss to Milan last weekend - already their fourth defeat of the season. The former Chelsea coach has blamed an intense schedule for the Biancocelesti's decline, but such talk will not earn him much sympathy.

After winning four of the previous five, Atalanta will arrive at Stadio Olimpico having claimed victory just once in their last five league meetings with Lazio.

The sole success in that run came from the clubs' most recent encounter in February, and the Bergamo side may now fancy their chance of winning successive matches away to their Roman rivals for the first time since 1989.

Over the past six years, Atalanta have actually remained unbeaten against Lazio at the Olimpico, and recent form on either side suggests that streak could continue this week: while the hosts have faltered, La Dea sat sixth in the Serie A standings after seven rounds.

Picking up seven points from their last three league matches, victories over Cagliari and Hellas Verona preceded last week's dull goalless draw at home to Juventus, and Atalanta have now posted five clean sheets from their first seven top-flight fixtures for the very first time.

Having also seen off opening Europa League opponents Rakow Czestochowa, setting them up for Thursday's impressive 2-1 win over Sporting in Lisbon, the Nerazzurri are showing signs they can contend for a Champions League return - even without their two main summer signings up front.

Although both Gianluca Scamacca and El Bilal Toure have been sidelined, several others have contributed to La Dea's goal tally this season, with young Italian duo Giorgio Scalvini and Matteo Ruggeri - a defender and a wing-back respectively - getting their names on the scoresheet in midweek.

Lazio Serie A form:

L

W

L

D

W

L

Lazio form (all competitions):

L

D

D

W

L

W

Atalanta BC Serie A form:

L

W

L

W

W

D

Atalanta BC form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

D

W

Advert - content below:

Team News

Due to a flexor problem sustained in Lazio's last-gasp win over Celtic, captain Ciro Immobile could miss Sunday's game, so Taty Castellanos is on standby to deputise as the hosts' spearhead in a 4-3-3 formation.

Amid a heavy workload at home and in Europe, Maurizio Sarri may make changes in midfield, as Danilo Cataldi, Matteo Guendouzi and Juventus loanee Nicolo Rovella all come into contention for a spot in the starting XI.

Pedro's late strike at Celtic Park could also earn the veteran winger promotion from the bench, with Felipe Anderson potentially being rested.

While Lazio's Italy striker is set to be sidelined, Atalanta welcomed Gianluca Scamacca back to first-team action on Thursday, when he appeared as a substitute against Sporting.

Nonetheless, a less conventional centre-forward, Charles De Ketelaere, could well be asked to lead La Dea's line again, once more partnering Ademola Lookman.

As Berat Djimsiti is struggling with a muscular injury, Rafael Toloi could come into the visitors' back three at Stadio Olimpico, with Juan Musso holding off competition from Marco Carnesecchi to start behind him. After seven rounds of Serie A, Musso had the highest save percentage of any goalkeeper across Europe's top five leagues this season.

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Provedel; Marusic, Romagnoli, Casale, Hysaj; Alberto, Rovella, Guendouzi; Pedro, Castellanos, Zaccagni

Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:

Musso; Toloi, Scalvini, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners; Lookman, De Ketelaere

We say: Lazio 1-0 Atalanta BC

Previews by email