Lazio vs Atalanta

Lazio return to the Stadio Olimpico looking to bounce back from an ugly loss away from home last week to Empoli when they host Atalanta. Atalanta were also disappointing last week as they dropped 2 points at home and they have now combined with Lazio to win just 2 of their last 10 matches.

The biancocelesti are in 13^th place of the Serie A league table with 23 points on the present campaign. They are 1 point behind 12^th place Torino and just ahead of 14^th place Catania on goal difference. Last week they were surprise losers away to relegation battlers Empoli at the Stadio Carlo Castellani by a score of 1-0. With the loss Delio Rossi’s side have now posted just 1 win to go along with 2 draws and 2 losses in their last 5 games. The injured list this week includes Firmani, Zauri and Mutarelli while Kolarov is out suspended. Lazio will go with a 4-3-1-2 featuring Mauri playing behind Rocchi and Goran Pandev. Pandev is the club leader in goals scored with 8.

Atalanta were held to a 2-2 draw at home last week in their match to Fiorentina at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri D’Italia. The two points dropped at home leave Gigi Del Neri’s side in 8^th place of the league table with 30 points for the year. They are 1 point behind 7^th place Sampdoria and 1 point ahead of 9^th place Genoa. Just as Lazio, they have produced 1 win, 2 draws and 2 losses over their last 5 games. The list of unavailable players for the trip to Rome this week is extensive and it includes Talamonti, Costinha, Forsyth, Carrozzieri and Radovanic. Given these absences and the fact that Atalanta are on the road, Del Neri will adopt a defensive formation with only Floccari upfront at the striker position with top goal scorer Doni playing behind him in a 4-4-1-1.

This could prove to be a very tough match for Lazio. They have been extremely inconsistent all season long, especially at home where they have already managed to lose 5 times. Meanwhile, Atalanta have lost just 4 road matches this season while winning 3 and drawing 4. While the bergamaschi might not be able to pull at a victory they should at least be good enough to hold out for a draw.

Prediction: Draw (1-1)