Struggling outfit Lazio host Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico, as Week 14 of Serie A resumes on Sunday.
Lazio will be desperate to end the wretched run that has seen them go 11 matches without a League win with five defeats and six draws has left Davide Ballardini clinging to his position on the Olimpico bench.
Bologna, one place below the Aquilotti in 16th spot, have yet to win a game on their travels and consequently will see this visit to face a troubled Lazio side as the perfect opportunity to change that statistic. One thing in their favour is their form in front of goal. They have scored in each of their last nine Serie A games, their hosts have drawn a blank in four from seven.
Lazio’s Julio Cruz begins a three-game ban after video evidence caught him biting Napoli’s Leandro Rinaudo in Week 13. Goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri, defender Sebastiano Siviglia and midfielders Francelino Matuzalem and Riccardo Perpetuini are all injured and unavailable.
Bologna, meanwhile, have no such worries as only Greek defender Vangelis Moras and midfielder Massimo Mutarelli are sidelined with fitness issues. Mutarelli in particular will be disappointed to miss the chance to face his former employers.
Last term Lazio claimed a 2-0 win with forward Mauro Zarate providing both the goals. The strikes, back in February, ended a two-month drought for the Argentine. The little attacker has not netted in Serie A since the end of September so maybe this fixture will again help him end a dry spell.
Historically, you have to go all the way back to January 1997 to find the last time Bologna conquered the light blue side of the Olimpico. Lazio have won seven of the nine games since, with two drawn.
The last home defeat was a 2-1 result with goals provided for Bologna by Kennet Andersson and Carlo Nervo, cancelling out Pierluigi Casiraghi’s opener.
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