Lazio vs Hellas Verona Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Italian Serie A
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We have a really intriguing clash at the Stadio Olimpico on the fourth match day of the 2024/25 Serie A season as Lazio, coached by former Hellas Verona boss Marco Baroni, welcome Baroni’s former side down to the capital city.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Monday 16th September, 2024 - UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+
LAZIO PREVIEW: INCONSISTENT START
At the back end of last season, another former Verona coach Igor Tudor took charge of an underperforming Lazio side following the disappointing spell in charge of Maurizio Sarri but he departed in the summer to be replaced by Hellas Verona’s miracle worker Marco Baroni, who has a job with a big club for the first time.
The capital city club started the season by coming from behind to defeat newly-promoted Venezia by three goals to one on the opening weekend of the season before then losing by two goals to one against Udinese in Friuli and then being pegged back to a 2-2 draw by an underperforming AC Milan side.
HELLAS VERONA PREVIEW: THE MIRACLE OF VERONA
That aforementioned miracle in Verona was as a result of the club’s owners having their assets seized and the club being forced to sell an entire team of first-team players in the January transfer window but Baroni managed to turn things around and somehow keep them in the top-flight.
He has been replaced by former Empoli boss Paolo Zanetti and Verona have started this season playing quite an exciting style of football, contrary to Zanetti’s previous jobs. An impressive 3-0 win over Napoli and an impressive 2-0 win over Genoa have sandwiched a 3-0 loss to a new look and refreshed Juventus at the start of this season.
LAZIO TEAM NEWS: BUILDING AROUND VALENTIN CASTELLANOS
The departure of club captain Ciro Immobile to Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas this summer means that Valentin Castellanos is now the focal point in Lazio’s attack.
The Romans have made some interesting signings throughout the summer and a couple, Boulaye Dia and Samuel Gigot, came in just before the international break.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Provedel; Lazzari, Patric, Romagnoli, Tavares; Tchaouna, Rovella, Guendouzi, Zaccagni; Dia, Valentin Castellanos
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
HELLAS VERONA TEAM NEWS: SERDAR NEARING RETURN
Unusually for Zanetti, as well as his more open style of football, Verona have also been playing quite attacking players in key positions in midfield such as Ondrej Duda and Darko Lazovic.
A reason for that may well be that former Schalke midfielder Suat Serdar remains unavailable for this one and he remains a doubt as they travel to the capital this weekend.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Montipo; Dawidowicz, Coppola, Frese; Tchatchoua, Duda, Belahyane, Lazovic; Suslov, Harroui; Tengstedt
UNAVAILABLE: Juan Manuel Cruz (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Serdar (Injured)
LAZIO VS HELLAS VERONA PREDICTION
This one is quite tough to call. Naturally, Lazio would seem like the overwhelming favourites for this one with their home advantage and being coached by the man that they stole from Verona. However, Verona will head down to Rome knowing that they have a real chance of causing a few issues for Lazio with their form so far this season. Both teams scoring may well be the way to go for this one at Stadio Olimpico.
LAZIO VS HELLAS VERONA TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
