Lazio vs Empoli 08/02/19

08 February 2019

The Champions League promotion chasers and the Serie A relegation fighters go head-to-head at the Stadio Olimpico as Lazio tackle Empoli.

After bringing a three-game Serie A winless streak to an end (D1, L2) with a narrow 1-0 road win over Frosinone, the hosts hope to achieve back-to-back league wins for the third time this campaign. A lack of consistency followed by numerous ups and downs (W10, D5, L7) is the main reason the Eagles currently sit seventh in the table although they are just one point behind fourth-placed AC Milan. The Biancocelesti enter this must-win game with a frustratingly poor home form (W1, D3, L1) having failed to keep a clean sheet in their last ten home games across all competitions. Although Simone Inzaghi’s men found the net in six consecutive SA home outings, they’ve managed to score over 1.5 goals per match only three times in the sequence.

It will be a daunting prospect for a struggling Empoli side to pick up a victory over Lazio, considering they’ve failed to wrap up all three points on their last nine visits to the Stadio Olimpico (D2, L7). Probably the only thing that bothers Giuseppe Iachini more than his team’s record in Rome is their performance on the road this season. The Blues chase their elusive first away SA victory this season, as they remain one of two teams that have struggled to secure all three points on the road so far (D4, L6). Another worrying fact is that Empoli conceded a goal in 9 of 10 SA road trips this term, allowing 24 goals in the process, which is the second-worst defensive record in the Italian top flight. What’s more, Iachini’s men have conceded over 1.5 goals per match in their last six away clashes, failing to hit the net only once though.