Saturday 26th November 2011, 7.45pm GMT (live on ESPN)
This meeting of first and second in the table is the pick of this weekend’s Serie A fixtures. Both teams have earned 22 points so far, but Juventus have the superior goal difference and have played a game less. If these two are still level on points when the end of the season approaches, the head-to-head record between the sides will determine who comes out on top.
The historical advantage here lies with the visitors. Lazio have conceded a total of 239 goals against Juventus, more than any other Serie A team. Juve are unbeaten in their last 13 games against Lazio, with nine wins and four draws. The last time they met in the Stadio Olimpico, it was a cagey affair which was eventually decided by a late goal from Pepe.
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| Klose, the focal point of the Lazio attack |
I have a feeling that there will be more than one goal scored tomorrow - Juventus have shown improvement in their attack following the addition of playmaker Andrea Pirlo, while Claudio Marchisio and Alessandro Matri have been on fire so far this season. Lazio have also strengthened their attack as a result of having signed Miroslav Klose and Djibril Cisse during the summer. Klose – Lazio’s top scorer with six goals – returns from injury tomorrow, having missed last week’s 0-0 draw in Napoli. The Biancoceleste defence has looked less solid than they did last season however, a fact which must be of concern to coach Edy Reja.
I rarely predict the draw here, as readers may have noticed, because drawing a game is rarely the objective for either side in a game of football. Considering the importance of the head-to-head record in Italy however, I have a feeling that Juve might be happy with a draw tomorrow, and therefore I think it’s worth a small bet.
Prediction – Lazio to draw with Juventus – 3pts
Match odds: Lazio 13/8
Draw 11/5
Juventus 8/5
