Lazio Vs. Monza Prediction: Biancocelesti Determined To Return To The Top Four

JAKARTA - Lazio will host Monza at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome, on Sunday 9 February in Serie A. Biancoceleste is eyeing a win to reclaim the top four, while the visitors are trying to bounce back from adversity after a series of poor results that left them slumped at the bottom of the standings.

Lazio have just risen from two consecutive defeats with a 2-0 win over Cagliari in the previous match. Goals from Mattia Zaccagni and Taty Castellos confirmed three important points for Marco Baroni's side. The win was the second in their last three matches in Serie A, indicating a resurgence after a less stable performance before.

Even so, Lazio still has problems maintaining consistency, especially when playing at home. The Italian capital team failed to win in the last four home games in the league, having previously recorded five consecutive wins at the Stadio Olimpico. Baroni certainly hopes this bad trend can be stopped, especially as his team faces the slumping Monza.

In the last five meetings with Monza, Lazio never lost, with their last win taking place last November through Zaccagni's single goal. If able to maintain this dominance, Lazio has a great chance of gaining three points and returning to the top four of the standings.

On the other hand, Monza is in an increasingly worrying situation. Salvatore Bocchitti's side is currently slumped at the bottom of the standings with just 13 points, eight points adrift of the safe zone.

Since last December, Monza has experienced a performance crisis by swallowing eight defeats from their last nine matches. The 0-1 defeat to Hellas Verona last week worsened the team's condition, especially after new defender Stefan Lekovic scored an own goal that determined the outcome of the match.

The departure of several key players in the winter transfer market, including Pablo Mari, Warren Bondo, and Daniel Maldini, also makes it increasingly difficult for Monza to compete. Strikers Mirza Maric and Milan Djuric have also left the club, making the attack even weaker. Now, their hopes rest on Dany Mota and the new striker Silvere Ganvoula, although Mota has failed to score in their last 12 league games.

Conditions are getting more difficult for Monza as they also lost several core players due to injuries, including Matteo Pessina captain Roberto Gagliardini, Luca Caldirola, and main goalkeeper Stefano Turati.

Lazio Vs. Monza Meeting Record

Lazio are unbeaten in the last five meetings against Monza. In the first meeting of the season, Lazio narrowly won 1-0 thanks to Mattia Zaccagni's goal.Monza have always lost in their last four away games in Serie A.Lazio had a poor home record in their last four games at Stadio Olimpico, winless.

Good news for Lazio is the return of two full-backs Manuel Lazzari and Nuno Tavares, who have just recovered from injury. However, Marco Baroni may still field Adam Marusic as a starter, given the fitness of the two newly recovered players.

In midfield, Matias Vecino is still sidelined due to injury, while Patric and Elseid Hysaj are also unable to play. However, Lazio has enough squad depth to fill the position, with Nicolo Rovella and Matteo Guendouzi likely to duet in midfield.

On the front lines, Taty Castellanos remains a mainstay, supported by Zaccagni and Gustav Isaksen from the wing.

On Monza's side, losing many key players forced Salvatore Bocchitti to do a lot of rotation. Stefano Turati is out, so reserve goalkeeper Manuel Pizzignacco will start.

The Monza defense line is also fragile with the absence of Luca Caldirola and several other players. Therefore, the Lekovic defenders, Armando Izzo, and Palacios trio will most likely be deployed.

Di lini tengah, Andrea Pereira, Urbanski, dan Bianco akan berupaya memberikan stabilitas, sementara Ciurria dan Kyriakopoulos akan membantu serangan dari sisi sayap.

Silvere Ganvoula, Monza's new signing, will most likely be played as a starter, accompanied by Dany Mota in attack.

Lazio have a great motivation to secure three points in this match in order to keep their chances of finishing in the Champions League zone. Meanwhile, Monza is in bad shape with a series of negative results and losing a lot of core players.

With their dominance over Monza in recent meetings and the visitors' poor performance in away matches, Lazio are predicted to control the game and win without significant difficulties.

Lazio's Lineup Estimates (4-2-3-1): Providel, Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares, Guendouzi, Rovella, Isaksen, Dia, Zaccagni, CastellanosMonza (3-4-2-1): Pizzignacco, Lekovic, Izzo, Palacios, Pereira, Urbanski, Bianco, Kyriakopoulos, Ciurria, Mota, GanvolaPredicsi score: Lazio 2-0 Monza