Lazio vs CFR Cluj prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2023-02-15 20:00.
Roma coach José Mourinho was probably being mischievous when he said city rivals Lazio are “favourites to win the Conference League” but that is unlikely to affect the Biancocelesti’s laser-focus on navigating the knockout round play-offs. Lazio will need to improve however, as they’re winless in four competitive matches (D2, L2) which is not the best preparation for their UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) debut, dropping down to this competition after finishing third in a Europa League group that saw all four teams finish on eight points.
A 2-0 home loss to Atalanta in Serie A last weekend was brushed aside by coach Maurizio Sarri, but the fact remains that he’ll have to halt a three-game winless home run (D1, L2) in UEFA knockouts if they want to tee up their chances for the second leg. Sarri may lfeel that the Stadio Olimpico has otherwise been a fortress for Lazio in Europe, as they remain unbeaten in seven UEFA home matches (W3, D4).
CFR Cluj carry the pride of being Romania’s only remaining club in UEFA competition after finishing second in Group G, but recent consecutive defeats have seen them relinquish their place at the summit of Liga I with coach Dan Petrescu ordering an extended training camp. Despite that poor run and a record of just two wins across their last ten matches against Italian clubs (D1, L7), Petrescu has recently stated that “the pressure is on Lazio.”
If the Romanians want to ramp up that pressure, they’ll have to address their poor away record having won just once over nine UECL road trips (D4, L4) and failing to score on five occasions. Perhaps a set piece could be the key to avoiding another scoring blank, as four of the Railwaymen’s last five UECL goals have come from such scenarios.
Players to watch: Lazio’s last two European home games saw Pedro score a second-half goal to give them 2-1 lead. He will do well to repeat that feat here as Cluj ‘keeper Simone Scuffet has managed three clean sheets from his last four UECL matches.
Hot stat: Excluding qualifiers, nine of Cluj’s last ten UECL matches have seen the half-time result replicated at full-time.