Serie A | Gameweek 14

Dec 1, 2024 at 2pm UK

Stadio Ennio Tardini

Parmavs.Lazio

Match preview

After making the most of their fortune against 10-man Bologna last weekend, Lazio have won their last five Serie A matches. They've scored 14 goals and only conceded two in the process.

Marco Baroni's team really came alive after the break, scoring the most goals during the final half-hour this season, including all three against Bologna at Stadio Olimpico. They've scored 15 goals, five more than any other club.

Lazio are now on a six-game winning streak in Italy's top flight, which is the first time they've done that since 2021. They're at the top of the standings and could be in a position to challenge for the Scudetto, which is an open title race.

If they win again this weekend, Baroni will have reached 10 victories in his first 14 Serie A matches since taking charge, putting any remaining doubts from sceptical fans to rest.

His team's amazing run of form was slightly disrupted on Thursday evening, when they finally lost at home in the Europa League.

Even so, a 0-0 draw with Ludogorets still puts Lazio at the top of the league table with just three games to go.

It's been over a decade since Parma have beaten Lazio in the league. They've lost nine games in a row, with the overall score at 21-4. That's their longest losing streak against any one opponent.

Given their recent performances, the visitors are likely to be the favourites for Sunday's clash at Stadio Tardini. The Aquile are on a winning streak, while Parma have only won once since August.

It's worth noting that no team has lost more home games than Fabio Pecchia's side this season (four from seven so far). They're also in a fight against relegation.

After being promoted as Serie B champions last season, the Gialloblu are now trying to stay in Serie A. However, they have let several points slip by throwing away leads.

In their last game, they were beaten 3-1 by Atalanta BC, who are one of only two teams with a better record than Lazio over the past six matchdays. Matteo Cancellieri scored the hosts' goal.

Recent Performance

Parma Serie A form:DDDLWL

Lazio Serie A form:LWWWWW

Lazio form (all competitions):WWWWWD

Team News

Lazio will be without Serie A assist leader and regular left-back Nuno Tavares once again, so Luca Pellegrini is set to keep his place in an otherwise much-changed XI.

After a rest in the Europa League, Italy midfielder Nicolo Rovella, top scorer Taty Castellanos, first-choice goalkeeper Ivan Provedel and captain Mattia Zaccagni should all be back in the starting lineup.

He's scored in each of his last three league games – against Cagliari, Monza and Bologna – and could now find the net in four consecutive top-flight matches for the first time. If he scores one more goal, it'll be the same as his total tally for the whole of last season (six in 28 appearances).

Gustav Isaksen played as a substitute in midweek and could also be brought back in, but Gaetano Castrovilli misses out again.

Meanwhile, Matteo Cancellieri – who didn't score any goals in the Serie A for Lazio during the 2022-23 season – is Parma's most recent in-form forward, having scored two goals in his last four games at the Tardini.

Hernani will be back in the starting lineup after recovering from injury, but Fabio Pecchia is still without Adrian Bernabe, Yordan Osorio and long-term absentees Mateusz Kowalski and Alessandro Circati.

Possible starting lineup

Parma possible starting lineup:

Suzuki; Coulibaly, Del Prato, Balogh, Valeri; Keita, Estevez; Man, Sohm, Cancellieri; Bonny

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Provedel; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Rovella, Guendouzi; Isaksen, Dele-Bashiru, Zaccagni; Castellanos