Juventus vs Lazio

Juventus are home to take on SS Lazio in week 35 of Serie A at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino. The vecchia signora are looking to build off of their dominating performance of a week ago away to Atalanta while Lazio will face the daunting task of having to play on the road for a second straight time – they have one just one game away from home all season- and they will be taking on the very tough Juve at that.

The bianconeri were awesome in week 34 with a strong 0-4 victory away to Atalanta at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri D’Italia. Together with AS Roma’s tie in their match against Livorno, Juve have now climbed to within 5 points of 2^nd place with 4 games remaining. They have 67 points to Roma’s 72 while maintaining an 8 point lead over 4^th place Fiorentina. This development leaves them with a slight chance at catching Roma for a direct place in the Champions League. Manager Claudio Ranieri’s side have now posted 3 consecutive victories and have outscored their opposition over those past 3 games by a score of 10-2. Juventus have just two injury concerns this week with Andrade and Iaquinta having been ruled out. Therefore, Ranieri will have pretty much his top first 11 for this game with Zebina at right fullback and Nedved, Camoranesi, Sissoko, Trezeguet and Del Piero all able to start.

SS Lazio find themselves in 12^th place of the Serie A log with 40 points on the present campaign. They are 1 point behind 11^th place Atalanta and 2 points ahead of 12^th place Siena. The biancocelesti were beaten away from home last week when they lost to Catania on the road by a 1-0 final score at the Angelo Massimino. The side managed by Delio Rossi have been struggling over the past month and have gone winless over the last 5 matches with 3 draws and 2 losses during this stretch. Two players have been ruled out because of injury this week in Behrami and Diakite while Zauri, Ledesma and Dabo are out suspended. In the case of Dabo he is out suspended for the next game as well.

Juventus are playing some great football of late. Their last two wins have been by a combined 7-0 over the opposition and this was after their big derby victory over AC Milan. Lazio have not been playing well of late and the odds of them picking up only their 2^nd road win of the season this week away to Juve are slim at best. Juve’s excellent current form should carry the day.

Prediction: Juventus (2-1)