Fiorentina vs Lazio prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2024-02-25 19:45.
Despite entering 2024 among the top four in Serie A, a dreadful run of just one win in seven league matches (D2, L4) sees Fiorentina enter this match trailing seventh-placed Lazio by two points. This game was supposed to be a joyous homecoming from AFCON for Christian Kouamé who was in line to start here, but having tested positive for malaria, Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Italiano now has another issue to deal with.
A return to Stadio Artemio Franchi may provide a timely boost though, as Fiorentina celebrated their only league victory of 2024 last time out here when dispatching Frosinone 5-1 in their highest Serie A win since last April. However, their overall record against current top-seven sides (W2, D1, L6) suggests their evening won’t be as straightforward here.
Despite facing 13 shot attempts during the first-half in Serie A for the first time in over a year, Lazio were able to hold out and beat Torino 2-0 on Thursday evening courtesy of two quick-fire second-half goals, victory which moved them within a point of the top-six prior to this round. Coach Maurizio Sarri will now be keen to see his players follow up that result against their higher-placed opponents given they’ve twice lost against a European rival across the last four rounds.
Another failure here could cost them dearly as both sides still dream about a possible top-four finish. But similarly to their hosts, Lazio don’t boast a comfortable record against teams that started this round in top-eight, celebrating just two victories against their fellow European hopefuls (D1, L6), albeit one of those came in the reverse fixture (1-0).
Players to watch: Andrea Belotti opened his scoring account for Fiorentina with the opener in their last home match, but four of his last six goals came after the break. Luis Alberto assisted twice in Lazio’s last victory and he has eight goal contributions across 13 SA H2Hs (G4, A4), including a goal when these teams last met here (W 4-0).
Hot stat: Just one of the last six H2Hs saw both teams score.