Verona vs Lazio prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2023-12-08 14:00.
Hellas Verona saved the job of their coach Marco Baroni once again as they scored in the 97th minute to claim a 3-3 draw against Udinese in their last Serie A (SA) match. The Gialloblù will start this round still in the relegation zone, but five goals scored across the last two matches – which represent almost half of their 12 SA strikes this term – symbolises their courageous fighting spirit.
Baroni didn't lack courage either when he chose to start with four defenders born during or after 2001 in Udine. But he’s going to have to find a way to convert the positives into wins, as they've failed to do so in five consecutive home SA matches (D2, L3), with their last SA victory arriving here in the opening round against Roma.
Visitors Lazio ground out a 1-0 win at home to Cagliari last weekend, a result which moved them to within three points of the top six. That was their first league victory since the end of October and should provide a morale boost for a Lazio side who have scored only 15 SA goals this term – their worst such tally after the opening 14 rounds since 2009/10, when they eventually finished 12th.
That victory came hot on the heels of securing progression to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, and was followed by a 1-0 success in midweek cup action, all of which has gone some way to quelling speculation about the potential end of Maurizio Sarri’s tenure. The next task is to get back to winning ways on the road after three straight competitive defeats and a trip to Verona could be a boost in that regard, with Lazio losing just one of their last seven trips to this part of Italy (W4, D2).
Players to watch: Cyril Ngonge has three goal contributions across the previous two SA matches (G2, A1), whilst he also scored his first ever goal in Italy in this corresponding H2H last season. Pedro opened the scoring against Cagliari with his third consecutive SA goal to come before the break, with the last two arriving in the opening 15 minutes.
Hot stat: Ahead of this round, only Fiorentina had scored more than Lazio’s four SA goals in the opening 15 minutes.