Lazio host Parma on Saturday, 24 October in the eighth round of the Italian championship, with kick-off scheduled for 21:45 Moscow time. The Rome side are expected to continue their impressive start to the season with a convincing victory.
Lazio have emerged as serious contenders in the title race and currently sit second in the table. They are level with leaders Inter on points but remain behind on additional criteria.
The Rome club have scored 14 goals in their opening seven matches and conceded only four. Their recent form has been particularly strong, with victories over Juventus (3-0), Monza (3-1) and Venezia (2-0).
Lazio have won six of their seven Serie A matches this season and are regarded as the clear favourites by bookmakers. Playing at home, they will look to maintain the momentum that has placed them near the top of the standings.
Parma fighting to avoid relegation
Parma’s early-season campaign has taken a very different direction. The club from the city of the same name are battling for survival and have collected four points from seven matches.
They occupy the penultimate position in the table and have a negative goal difference of 4:13. Parma have lost three of their past four matches, including successive 3-0 defeats by Torino and Inter.
Their only recent success came against Genoa, when Parma secured a 2-1 win. That result offered some encouragement, but they face a demanding challenge against a Lazio side that has conceded just four goals in the competition.
The most recent meeting between the two teams ended in a 1-1 draw, although the contrasting starts to the current campaign have made Lazio the strong favourites ahead of this encounter.
Prediction
Lazio’s form, defensive record and home advantage point towards another comfortable win. Parma have struggled to find consistency and could find it difficult to contain the hosts’ attack.
The predicted score is Lazio 2-0 Parma.