Torino vs Lazio prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2024-02-21 19:45.
Torino’s strong recent form continued last time out as they extended their unbeaten streak to six games (W3, D3) by downing Lecce 2-0. That was their 12th league clean sheet of the season – only Inter Milan (15) have more ahead of the gameweek – and although they remain firmly in Serie A’s mid-table, that result kept the gap to the top six to just five points, with fellow European hopefuls Lazio up next.
Just one defeat from their last 11 league outings (W5, D5) puts Torino in a good position to maintain their European charge, and another strong defensive performance might prove key to leapfrogging the away side, who arrive just one point ahead of the hosts. Robust displays have been the theme of their season here and Torino boasts a run of three consecutive clean sheets at this venue, plus their six home Serie A goals against is a joint-league low.
It’s been a frustrating period for Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri who first accused Serie A officials of “ambushing” his side for handing them an early Sunday kick-off following their standout but taxing 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League last midweek, and he then refused to speak to the media after a 2-1 loss to Bologna in protest at the refereeing performance.
Although recently losing ground, the visitors will still be clinging onto ambitions of securing more Champions League football for next season, but they can’t afford to extend their recent poor record of just one win from their last four Serie A Matches (D1, L2) here. However, the Rome club’s form on the road has at least been on an upward trajectory, with just one of their past five league away games ending in defeat (W3, D1), and with all five of their league wins on the road this season coming against sides starting this round below them in the table, Lazio should travel with some confidence.
Players to watch: Torino’s Duván Zapata has scored in three of the last four matches, with four of his past six goals also arriving in the opening 25 minutes. It was also in that period that Lazio forward Gustav Isaksen scored last time out against Bologna, ending a cold run of eight competitive games without a goal.
Hot stat: There have been only five total goals scored before the break in Torino’s home league matches this season – easily a league-low.