Preview: Lazio vs. Hellas Verona - prediction, team news, lineups

The Biancocelesti bagged a late equaliser in Turin to edge over the line - securing a top-six finish - while their visitors are still in need of points to seal a top-half placing.

Match preview

Having previously posted back-to-back wins against more modest opponents, Lazio faced Juventus on Monday with their destiny still very much in their own hands, as they sought to seal a sixth successive qualification for Europe.

Trailing by two goals at the break, though, Maurizio Sarri's side had to summon up a stirring fightback in the second half, and thanks to Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's 96th-minute goal - the Serbian's 11th Serie A strike of another productive campaign - Europa League football is now assured.

That 2-2 draw at the Allianz Stadium sees Lazio sitting fifth in the standings - three points ahead of arch-rivals Roma, with one round remaining - and only Scudetto contenders Inter have now saved more points after going behind than Sarri's men this term.

As the Aquile's inconsistent season nears its conclusion, a burst of four wins from their last seven games has seen them achieve the club's minimum objective, but it remains to be seen whether the highly regarded Milinkovic-Savic will be around to represent them in continental competition next autumn.

His contribution, allied to that of irrepressible striker Ciro Immobile, has helped Lazio become the league's second-highest scorers to this point, and even if Immobile's injured ankle again rules him out, they will prove a threat Verona's rearguard on the final day - particularly on Roman soil.

In Serie A, the Biancocelesti have lost only three times at home this season, picking up 10 wins in the process, and have rattled in goals at a rate of more than two per game. They are, then, well placed to earn a slice of revenge for what happened when they last visited Verona.

Following their shock 4-1 win in October's reverse fixture, Verona could now do the league double over Lazio for just the second time in their long history - and the first in nearly 40 years.

In that remarkable encounter at Stadio Bentegodi, the Gialloblu's prolific striker Giovanni Simeone became only the second player in Hellas history to score at least four times in a single Serie A match, and his role at the apex of a potent front three has been pivotal in turning their 2021-22 season around.

Struggling at the wrong end of the standings before current coach Igor Tudor was installed in September, Verona then rose up the table to become one of Calcio's most free-scoring sides. Netting 62 league goals this season, they need only one more this weekend to top their club record in that regard.

As a result - and despite losing to Milan and Torino in their most recent outings - they start the final round two points clear of the latter and Sassuolo, both of whom would have to take maximum points in order to deprive Tudor's men a top-half finish.

Hellas have accumulated 52 points so far, and only once have they gained more in any Serie A campaign since the turn of the century. That haul could conceivably have been even better, but the Scaligeri have also dropped the most points from winning positions (25) of any team this term.

Lazio Serie A form:

Hellas Verona Serie A form:

Team News

Ahead of Juventus hotshot Dusan Vlahovic by three goals in the Capocannoniere contest, just 90 minutes from the season's end, Lazio captain Ciro Immobile may have to hope the Serbian striker does not conjure up a final round hat-trick, with his chances of featuring on Saturday apparently slim.

On 27 Serie A goals, Immobile could finish as the league's top scorer for the fourth time in his career, but is expected to make the bench at best, due to a sprained ankle.

Jovane Cabral deputised against Juventus, and is likely to do so again versus Verona. Alternatively, Felipe Anderson could be deployed as a 'false nine', flanked by Mattia Zaccagni and the recently returned Pedro.

In their skipper's potential absence, midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic will bear the hosts' burden of goalscoring responsibility, having been directly involved in five goals in his last seven games.

Meanwhile, Giovanni Simeone starts up front for the visitors, with a previous record of seven strikes from 11 league matches against his father's former club - his best record versus any team in the Italian top flight.

Verona captain Davide Faraoni will return for Saturday's game, after serving a suspension last weekend; Fabio Depaoli the man set to lose his place as a result.

However, Koray Gunter is now ruled out by a one-match ban, while Antonin Barak remains sidelined by injury - leaving the door open for Kevin Lasagna to start once again.

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Strakosha; Lazzari, Felipe, Acerbi, Marusic; Milinkovic-Savic, Leiva, Alberto; Anderson, Cabral, Zaccagni

Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:

Montipo; Sutalo, Ceccherini, Casale; Faraoni, Ilic, Tameze, Lazovic; Lasagna, Caprari; Simeone

We say: Lazio 3-2 Hellas Verona

Neither side is particularly secure at the back, with both Tudor and Sarri espousing attack-first philosophies, so an entertaining evening could be in store.

As the stakes are relatively low, a carefree attitude is likely to result in goals for both teams, but Lazio never know when they are beaten and can come back to win even if they go behind.

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