After a series of ups and downs in September, Lazio return from the international break by welcoming Spezia to Stadio Olimpico on Sunday afternoon.

The Biancocelesti were thumped in Europe shortly before winning their last Serie A outing 4-0, while their visitors beat regional rivals to move into mid-table.

Match preview

Following a comprehensive crushing of Cremonese last time out, Lazio sit just three points behind early pace-setters Napoli and Atalanta in the standings as Serie A resumes for an action-packed spell preceding the World Cup.

Despite some setbacks in a typically inconsistent month, Maurizio Sarri's men occupied fourth spot once the seventh round was completed, having scored 15 times so far - no other side has managed more.

The capital club may have lost to Napoli and suffered a shock 5-1 defeat at the hands of Europa League opponents FC Midtjylland, but still show signs of being a genuine top four contenders.

Before returning to continental competition next week, when they try to right the wrong of their loss in Denmark by beating Sturm Graz, Lazio will aim to continue a positive run on Italian soil.

Having won their last two league games without conceding once, the Biancocelesti have let in only five league goals this season altogether.

The last time they achieved three straight Serie A wins without conceding was back in 2015, but there remains every chance of repeating that feat this week due to their prowess on Roman soil.

While their hosts have won three of four home matches at the Olimpico so far this term, Spezia arrive in the Eternal City having lost all four of the clubs' previous top-flight meetings since promotion to the elite in 2020.

Indeed, the only game in which the Aquilotti have conceded six goals since reaching Serie A came in August of last year, at Lazio's hands.

Appointed in the summer, head coach Luca Gotti has experienced a mixed start to life in La Spezia, but his side went into the international break on a high following their 2-1 victory over Ligurian rivals Sampdoria a fortnight ago.

Despite falling behind early on, Spezia fought back to claim their second win of the league season, with M'Bala Nzola scoring the decider deep into the second half.

Including the Coppa Italia, Gotti's men have now won three times all told, but each of those victories came at home: Spezia remain one of only two teams, along with La Liga club Elche, that have failed to score a single away goal in the top five European leagues to date.

A total of three defeats from as many matches on the road, allied to a tally of six goals conceded, means they surely start as long-shot outsiders to cause an upset on Sunday.

Team News

Maurizio Sarri has established a settled front three, so will be eager for star striker Ciro Immobile to return from a muscular injury that forced the Italy international to withdraw from the Azzurri's Nations League camp.

In fact, no player has scored more Serie A goals against Spezia than Immobile's five - including his last hat-trick at the Olimpico, just over a year ago.

While the reigning Capocannoniere should be passed fit for Sunday's game, centre-back Nicolo Casale has been ruled out. However, Manuel Lazzari is back in the Lazio squad after recovering from a hamstring problem and replaces Elseid Hysaj at right-back.

Spezia, meanwhile, are also able to welcome back a key player after two weeks of recovery time, as ex-Roma forward Daniele Verde returns; loanee Daniel Maldini is also back at Luca Gotti's disposal.

Verde will battle it out with captain Emmanuel Gyasi to support M'Bala Nzola up front, and the latter arrives in Rome having already scored more goals (three) in seven Serie A appearances this season than in all 21 matches he played last term.

Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Lazzari, Patric, Romagnoli, Marusic; Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi, Alberto; Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni

Spezia possible starting lineup:
Dragowski; Ampadu, Kiwior, Nikolaou; Holm, Agudelo, Bourabia, Ellertsson, Bastoni; Gyasi, Nzola

We say: Lazio 2-0 Spezia

Both sides have improved at the back this season, as Lazio have conceded five league goals in 2022-23 compared to 12 at this point last year; Spezia have leaked 11 compared to 19.

The hosts are a formidable prospect on home soil, though, and even if Immobile sits out, chief creator Sergej Milinkovic-Savic can cause havoc in the visitors' defence.

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