Another lapse last weekend saw Lazio drop two more points in the race for a top four place, and they now seek a return to winning ways at Sassuolo on Sunday.
The Biancocelesti arrive at the Mapei Stadium having failed to win since the World Cup break, while their hosts have lost both Serie A fixtures so far this year.
Match preview
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After an excellent spell in mid-Autumn, Lazio's season now lies in danger of being derailed by an unstable defence, which had previously proved itself among the best in Serie A this term.
A second-half slip-up at Lecce had seen Maurizio Sarri's men welcome Empoli to Stadio Olimpico on the back of successive defeats either side of the winter break, and even a two-goal lead earned by strikes from Felipe Anderson and Mattia Zaccagni did not prove enough to see off their Tuscan visitors.
Once again, the Biancocelesti frittered their advantage away, as Empoli struck twice within the last 10 minutes to restrict their hosts to a single point; leaving Lazio fifth after 17 rounds - one game shy of the season's halfway stage.
Seven of the 15 goals Sarri's side have shipped in Serie A all season have therefore come in their last three outings, and following defeats in their two most recent road trips, they stand in danger of losing three straight away matches for the first time since mid-2021.
Set to tackle Bologna at the Coppa Italia's last-16 stage next week, Lazio will want to put an end to their mid-season wobble as soon as possible - particularly with arch-rivals Roma having caught up with them of late.
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Sunk by Sampdoria on their comeback to competitive action, Sassuolo came within a whisker of picking up their first point of 2023 in Florence last time out, but were ultimately undone at the last.
After Domenico Berardi had equalised from the spot against mid-table rivals Fiorentina, the Neroverdi may have even dreamt of snatching victory for the first time in six league games. However, Nicolas Gonzalez converted a stoppage-time penalty for the Viola, who then pulled seven points clear of their visitors in the standings.
In fact, Sassuolo's slip down the table saw them occupy a lowly 16th place after 17 games, and their current tally of 16 points is the second-lowest the Emilian club have posted at this stage of a Serie A season.
Head coach Alessio Dionisi - who lost several key players in the summer - is therefore under serious pressure to produce an improvement, as his side return to the Mapei Stadium this weekend.
Three of the Neroverdi's league victories this season have come on home soil, though, and having also have won their last two meetings with Lazio in Emilia-Romagna, recent precedent is at least on their side ahead of Sunday's early kickoff.
Team News
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Maurizio Sarri is in the fortunate position of having no first-choice players injured, but Elseid Hysaj will most likely be called upon to replace Manuel Lazzari at right-back as the latter misses out through suspension.
Despite their late implosion against Empoli, the visitors are expected to name a similar starting XI on Sunday, with Luis Alberto and Matias Vecino contesting one spot in midfield.
Captain Ciro Immobile - who is just one goal away from equalling Kurt Hamrin (190) as the eighth-top scorer in Serie A history - has previously scored eight times against Sassuolo and leads the way for Lazio with eight goals and five assists this season.
By contrast with his opposite number, Alessio Dionisi has been dealt two bitter blows this week, as first-choice goalkeeper Andrea Consigli and star striker Andrea Pinamonti have both been ruled out by injury - potentially for the rest of the month.
Gianluca Pegolo will deputise for Consigli, while Agustin Alvarez is favourite to replace Pinamonti up front; French forward Gregoire Defrel provides another option.
In addition to their more recent absentees, Mert Muldur and Maxime Lopez are still sidelined for Sassuolo, but Domenico Berardi is available - the Italy international has scored nine Serie A goals versus Lazio, including six from the penalty spot.
Sassuolo possible starting lineup:
Pegolo; Toljan, Erlic, Ferrari, Rogerio; Frattesi, Henrique, Traore; Berardi, Alvarez, Lauriente
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Hysaj, Casale, Romagnoli, Marusic; Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi, Alberto; Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni
We say: Sassuolo 1-2 Lazio
Already enduring a tough time this term, Sassuolo have now lost their attacking focal point to injury and are ill-placed to take advantage of Lazio's recent loss of form. Even if they take the lead, the Neroverdi are always susceptible to leaving the back door open and can be stung by their visitors' potent front line.
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Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
