Lazio will look to build momentum when they welcome Hellas Verona to the Stadio Olimpico on Monday evening. After an up-and-down start to the campaign, the Biancocelesti aim to secure their second home victory of the young season.
Surprisingly, Verona currently sit above Lazio in the table following an impressive opening to their campaign. The visitors have taken six points from their first three matches, including a stunning 3-0 win over Napoli on opening day.
Lazio enter the match on the back of a thrilling 2-2 draw with AC Milan before the international break. New signings Taty Castellanos and Boulaye Dia both found the net for the hosts, who led 2-1 late before conceding an equalizer. The result left Lazio with four points from their first three fixtures.
Manager Marco Baroni will be eager to get one over on his former club, having coached Verona to safety last season. However, Baroni has lost all three of his previous Serie A meetings against the Gialloblu without seeing his teams score a single goal.
History favors the home side in this matchup. Lazio is unbeaten in their last seven Serie A home games and has scored in 20 of their last 21 league encounters with Verona, averaging 2.2 goals per game. The visitors have won just once in their last 16 away trips to face Lazio.
Team News
Both sides should be at full strength following the international break. For Lazio, Mario Gila returns from injury and could start in central defense. Taty Castellanos is expected to partner with captain Mattia Zaccagni up front.
Verona manager Paolo Zanetti may stick with the same starting XI that defeated Genoa last time out. Danish striker Casper Tengstedt looks set to lead the line, supported by the in-form Darko Lazovic on the left wing.
With European commitments on the horizon for Lazio and Verona aiming to continue their strong start, this clash promises to be an intriguing battle between two sides with contrasting objectives for the season ahead.
Expected Starting XIs
Lazio: Provedel; Lazzari, Patric, Romagnoli, Tavares; Rovella, Guendouzi; Tchaouna, Dia, Zaccagni; Castellanos
Hellas Verona: Montipo; Tchatchoua, Coppola, Dawidowicz, Frese; Belahyane, Duda; Suslov, Harroui, Lazovic; Tengstedt
