Click on any stream link below to watch the game.
Lazio will aim to enhance their prospects of securing Champions League qualification as they prepare to confront Verona, a team positioned in the lower echelons of the Serie A standings, in an upcoming clash this weekend. Set to unfold at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, the hosts kick off the matchday occupying the seventh position with 52 points, while their adversaries find themselves in the 15th spot with 31 points. Despite succumbing to Juventus 2-1 in the second leg of the Coppa Italia, leading to their elimination by a 3-2 aggregate score, Lazio's recent form has been commendable, clinching victory in three consecutive matches and emerging triumphant in five of their last seven encounters, thereby bolstering their chances of securing a coveted spot in the Champions League.
With Serie A now allocating five berths for the Champions League, and a potential sixth spot if Roma or Atalanta triumph in the Europa League, Lazio are determined to remain in contention for a top-six finish. Heading into this matchday, they trail the top-four by a mere three points and have displayed a formidable home record, winning their last three matches at home, thus underscoring their resilience and determination.
Verona, commencing this matchday with a three-point cushion above the relegation zone, finds themselves still embroiled in the battle to stave off demotion. Their recent 1-0 victory over Udinese provided a much-needed morale boost, marking their third win in the past seven league fixtures, complemented by two draws.
Notably, all three triumphs were secured by a slender 1-0 margin, with Verona managing to find the back of the net in each of their last seven outings, thereby fostering a sense of momentum. This positive momentum has translated into their away performances, as they remain unbeaten in four of their last five away fixtures, clinching victory once and settling for draws on three occasions, with their solitary defeat in this sequence coming against Lecce.
In the previous month, Lazio bid farewell to Maurizio Sarri, the former manager of Chelsea and Juventus, following a Serie A season marked by disappointment and mediocrity, compounded by their elimination from the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals by Bayern Munich. In his place, they've welcomed Igor Tudor, the charismatic former coach of Marseille.
Facing off against one of his past teams, Hellas Verona, Tudor is leading his Lazio squad into this upcoming match buoyed by their recent 2-1 victory over Juventus in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg at Stadio Olimpico, albeit with a 3-2 aggregate loss. Their recent form showcases five wins and two losses in their last seven matches across various competitions.
Hellas Verona, having narrowly escaped relegation last season with a playoff win against Spezia, brought in Marco Baroni, then in charge at Lecce. The season began promisingly for them with consecutive wins, a feat achieved only once before in their history, coinciding with their sole Serie A title. However, they then endured a dismal 14-game winless streak, finding themselves embroiled in the Italian relegation battle as the campaign enters its final stretch. Their morale received a boost with a crucial 1-0 win against fellow strugglers Udinese in their latest outing at the Bentegodi.
Lazio encountered an impasse against Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus squad in the cup semi-final, yet the Biancocelesti's campaign persists as they strive for fifth place in Serie A.
The recent triumph of the capital club, prevailing over Genoa 1-0, marks their fourth victory in five league encounters (with just one loss), establishing them as the most potent force in the top flight during this span.
After enduring a streak of three consecutive defeats at home prior to Maurizio Sarri's departure, Lazio has clinched two consecutive league triumphs in front of their supporters—three if we factor in Tuesday's cup conquest over Juventus—thus positioning the Biancocelesti as frontrunners for yet another victory at the Olimpico.
With Bologna's unexpected victory over Roma on Monday intensifying the scramble for the fifth position, Lazio stands poised to exert pressure on their city rivals come Saturday, while Daniele De Rossi's squad gears up for a visit to Napoli on Sunday.
Depending on the outcome of Giallorossi's remaining 18 minutes (excluding added time) against Udinese, Tudor's contingent could find themselves trailing Roma by four points as they head into gameweek 34, should De Rossi's squad manage only a draw in Udine.
Verona are set on halting Lazio's surging progress in Serie A, notwithstanding their current standing at 14th in the form table over the last five games, clinching a lone victory and two stalemates out of a possible 15 encounters.
Their recent conquest was against Udinese on April 20, sparking a managerial shift for the club teetering on relegation. Just two days following that turnaround at the Bentegodi, Fabio Cannavaro was appointed as the new head coach.
This victory marked the Mastiffs' fifth triumph at home during the 2023-24 season. However, their away performance paints a different picture, with only two wins secured out of 17 matches on foreign soil.
Nevertheless, a noteworthy improvement in their away games has emerged as Marco Baroni's squad collected five points out of nine available, prevailing over Lecce (1-0) and achieving commendable draws against Cagliari (1-1) and Atalanta (2-2).
With merely three points separating the Mastiffs from Frosinone in the 18th position, extending their undefeated streak on the road to four matches is exactly what the club needs to stave off relegation.
