Preview: Hellas Verona vs. Lazio - prediction, team news, lineups

Lazio square off against Hellas Verona on Sunday afternoon looking for the win that they require to remain in the top five of the Serie A standings.

However, they face a Verona side who have only lost once in five games, that solitary defeat coming away at AC Milan last weekend.

Match preview

© Reuters

While Lazio have not been firing on all cylinders since the arrival of Maurizio Sarri, their comeback win over champions Inter Milan suggests that they have the quality to finish in the top four this season.

Defeat last weekend would have left Lazio down in ninth position, but three goals in the final 26 minutes kept the club in close proximity to third place.

Lazio have now only lost once in seven games in all competitions, and their goalless draw with Marseille in the Europa League could be perceived to be another step in the right direction.

That said, I Biancocelesti are still without a clean sheet in the league, a streak which cannot realistically continue if they want to make further progress up the table.

Despite having seven goals to his name this season, Ciro Immobile has not netted from open play since September 19.

© Reuters

While Lazio could be described as the entertainers of the division with 31 goals coming at either end in eight matches, their next opponents have scored and conceded 17 goals apiece.

Previous Verona sides have been known for their sturdy backlines, but there has been no sign of that since Igor Tudor's appointment in the middle of September.

Nevertheless, the Croatian has collected eight points from five matches, a record which was well on its way to being strengthened before his side let slip a two-goal lead at San Siro.

Although everyone associated with I Gialloblu were naturally left disappointed, their performance added more to the argument that Tudor is the right man to take the club forward in the long term.

Gianluca Caprari has been in excellent form since Tudor's arrival, contributing three goals and two assists from just 271 minutes.

Team News

© Reuters

Lazio will have to make do without Luiz Felipe after the defender was sent off during the closing stages versus Inter.

At a time when Francesco Acerbi is also serving a ban, Stefan Radu is in line to come back into the team.

Luis Alberto is pushing for a start ahead of Toma Basic in the middle of the pitch.

With Federico Ceccherini having to be withdrawn at half time against Milan, Bosko Sutalo could deputise at the weekend.

Barring any further fitness issues, Tudor may be prepared to stick with the remainder of the Verona team which started against Milan.

Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:

Montipo; Sutalo, Gunter, Casale; Faraoni, Ilic, Veloso, Lazovic; Barak, Caprari; Kalinic

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Reina; Marusic, Radu, Patric, Hysaj; Milinkovic-Savic, Leiva, Alberto; Anderson, Immobile, Pedro

We say: Hellas Verona 1-2 Lazio

Given their lack of consistency, it would come as no surprise if Lazio dropped more points at the weekend. However, we are backing the visitors to edge this contest, inflicting Verona to a defeat which will keep them looking over their shoulders.