Lazio vs Novara 12/01/19

12 January 2019

Lazio welcome the Serie C outfit Novara to the Stadio Olimpico in the Coppa Italia round of 16, with the hosts marked as big favorites to advance to the next stage.

The Biancocelsti have gone from seven consecutive games without a win to two successive triumphs, but they come into this meeting following a 1-1 home draw with Torino. Lazio’s poor form at the end of last year has seen Simone Inzaghi’s men securing just one victory in the previous five home outings in all competitions, playing out three draws in the process. The Eagles’ defensive frailties have seen Lazio concede in eight home games in a row, allowing over 1.5 goals per match three times in that period. The last seven Lazio’s home encounters have ended with both teams scoring, with Inzaghi’s players notching over 1.5 goals per match four times in the process.

Meanwhile, the visitors are unbeaten in the previous 13 competitive meetings, but they’ve been held to nine stalemates in that period. A very few teams have played out more draws than Novara (11) this term, with the Biancoazzurri being involved in four successive stalemates on the road ahead of this encounter. Three of these four draws have ended with the identical 1-1 scoreline, as Novara remain of the most unattractive teams to watch in Serie C this campaign. Just five of Novara’s last 15 competitive outings have produced over 2.5 goals, with William Viali’s men scoring one goal or less nine times in the process. What’s more, all of Novara’s previous eight away meetings have produced under 2.5 goals, with the White-Blues conceding under 1.5 goals in each.