Lazio vs Genoa

Stuck in mid-table lethargy, Lazio will be desperate to get back to winning ways in Serie A when they lock horns with 18th-placed Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico.

Despite taking an early lead, Lazio fell to a 2-1 defeat at Sassuolo, sliding to ninth in the Serie A standings as they face an uphill task of clawing their way back into a top-four race. Indeed, Lazio’s indifferent recent form has seen them lose three of their last five top-flight fixtures (W1, D1), conceding 2+ goals four times in the process. By contrast, ‘I Biancocelesti’ have suffered just two defeats in their last 12 Serie A meetings with Genoa (W7, D3), summing up their status as pre-match favorites in a nutshell. At home, Lazio have outplayed Genoa in five of their previous six top-flight H2Hs (L1), scoring precisely four goals in their last three such encounters in a row. That said, Maurizio Sarri’s men have drawn a blank twice in their last three competitive home games (D2, L1).

Meanwhile, new manager Andriy Shevchenko has failed to inspire Genoa’s comeback so far, overseeing his side score just a single goal in five Serie A fixtures under his tenure (D1, L4). However, the Ukrainian can fall back on Genoa’s 1-0 Coppa Italia win over Salernitana in midweek, as he hopes to avoid becoming the first Serie A manager in a three-points-per-win era to go winless in his first six league games in charge. However, since the start of October, ‘I Grifone’ are the only Serie A side to have failed to win any of their 11 league fixtures (D5, L6) as they head into proceedings sitting two points adrift of safety. What’s more, Genoa’s slow away starts have seen them concede the opening goal in seven (78%) of their nine Serie A travels this season, adding to an always-growing list of Shevchenko’s problems.