With just nine games to go in Serie A this season, there are still vital points to play for at both ends of the table.

At the Stadio Olimpico this weekend high-flying Lazio will be aiming to maintain their bid to reach the Champions League against an Empoli side battling to avoid the drop.

Lazio

There are no teams in the top five leagues across Europe in better form than Lazio.

The Biancocolesti have won their last seven league games and it has propelled them up to third in the table and just a point behind their fierce rivals Roma.

A return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years is becoming an increasing likelihood and it is not only in Serie A where they have impressed.

On Wednesday evening the club booked their place in the Coppa Italia final, with a late goal from Senad Lulic edging them to a 1-0 victory at Napoli.

They will take on Juventus in the final at their home ground and the two teams will meet in a dress rehearsal for that clash next weekend.

One of the keys to Lazio's success in recent months has been the form of Felipe Anderson. The Brazilian midfielder struggled in his first year at the club, but he has flourished under Stefano Piolo's management and has scored nine goals in Serie A this season.

Recent form in Serie A: WWWWWW
Recent form (all competitions): DWWWWW

Empoli

Empoli returned to the top flight this season after a six-year absence and their primary target was to ensure survival.

With just one victory from their opening 10 games though, it seemed as if a quick return to Serie B was on the cards.

However, they gradually found their feet and they now sit 14th in the table and 11 points clear of the bottom three.

Manager Maurizio Sarri has made his side one of the toughest to beat in the division and although they have only won six games, they have played out a league high of 15 draws.

The Azzurri also possess one of the best defensive records in the league, and goalkeeper Luigi Sepe, who is on loan from Napoli, has kept an impressive nine clean sheets.

Other key players who have enjoyed great campaigns include Juventus-bound youngster Daniele Rugani and recent Italy debutant Mirko Valdifiori, who has been heavily linked with a summer move to Fiorentina.

Recent form: WDDDWL

Team News

Lazio will be forced into making a couple of changes to their defence this weekend, as Dusan Basta and Mauricio are both suspended.

Luis Pedro Cavanda is likely to come in at right-back and with Stefan Radu still out injured, Edson Braafheid should retain his place on the opposite side of the pitch.

Federico Marchetti will also miss out for the Biancocelesti after fracturing his nose in training, so Etrit Berisha will have a rare chance to impress in goal.

Meanwhile, Simone Verdi is expected to miss out for Empoli after going off injured during last weekend's defeat at Juventus.

Top scorer Massimo Maccarone will lead the attack, with Manuel Pucciarelli likely to join him up front once again.

Lazio possible starting lineup:
Berisha, Cavanda, De Vrij, Cana, Braafheid, Parolo, Biglia, Mauri, Candreva, Anderson, Klose

Empoli possible starting lineup:
Sepe, Hysaj, Rugani, Barba, Rui, Vecino, Valdifiori, Croce, Saponara, Pucciarelli, Maccarone

Head To Head

Empoli pulled off one of the shocks of the season when these teams last met, as they claimed an unlikely 2-1 victory against their illustrious opponents.

Rather surprisingly, Empoli have a great recent record against Lazio and they have only lost one of the previous six games between the clubs.

The Azzurri will also have fond memories of their last trip to the Stadio Olimpico, as they held Roma to a 1-1 draw at the end of January, despite ending the match with 10 men.

We say: Lazio 2-0 Empoli

It's hard to see anything other than a win for Lazio, given their impressive recent form. They have been playing some of the best football in Italy and a victory would further enhance their Champions League prospects. Empoli's only defeat in their previous nine games was against Juventus so they are no pushovers, but we think that Lazio will have too much quality for their opponents and we are backing them to claim an eighth successive league win.