Fiorentina vs Lazio Prediction & Betting Tips (22 September)

8th in Serie Last year, Fiorentina met expectations by booking their ticket to the Conference League. La Viola narrowly missed qualifying for the Europa League, 1 point behind 7th place. This season, the Tuscans have not yet found the right formula. Indeed, they did not win any of their first 4 championship matches. Fiorentina started with 3 draws conceded against Parma 1-1, Venice 0-0 and Monza 2-2 before losing at Atalanta last weekend 3-2. Engaged in the last preliminary round of C4, the Viola barely dismissed Puskas Academy 4-4 at the end of the round-trip matches, qualification following penalties. Runner-up to Napoli in 2023, Lazio was less to its advantage during the previous exercise.

The capital club, on the other hand, showed a real revival of form during the second half of the championship, which allowed it to qualify for the Europa League. Not retained this summer, coach Igor Tudor was replaced by Marco Baroni. The start of the season is honorable for the moment with 7 points taken in 4 matches. Victorious over promoted Venice to start 3-1, the Biancocelesti were then surprised by Udinese 2-1 before holding off AC Milan 2-2. Last weekend, they defeated Hellas Verona 2-1 at home.

The Fiorentina coach can count on his entire squad this weekend. Indeed, the important offensive recruit Gudmundsson (14 goals in SA last year) is back on his feet and should make his debut with the Viola. In his absence, the former Parisian Kean (2 goals in SA, 2 goals in C4) responded. He notably found the net on the last day. This summer, Fiorentina was unable to retain senior defender Milenkovic (Nottingham Forest) and influential winger Nico Gonzalez (Juventus). Other elements have left the club such as midfielders Amrabat (Fenerbahce), Bonaventura (Al-Shabab), Duncan (Venice) and Castrovilli (Lazio) or even striker Nzola (Lens). In the opposite direction, the Viola was strengthened with the arrivals of goalkeeper De Gea, defenders Pongracic (Lecce), Gosens (Union Berlin), Moreno (Belgrano) and Valentini (Boca Juniors), midfielders Bove (Roma), Cataldi (Lazio), Richardson (Reims) and Adli (AC Milan) and attackers Kean (Juventus), Gudmundsson (Genoa) and Colpani (Monza). For this meeting, Lazio is not sure of being able to count on the holder Castellanos.

His absence would be detrimental since the Argentine striker has already scored 3 goals since the start of the championship. During his first two starts with the Biancocelesti, rookie Boulaye Dia found the net twice. In support, should notably take place the Italian international winger Zaccagni (1 goal and 2 assists in SA). Lazio's attacking sector was shaken up this summer with the departures of Luis Alberto, Felipe Anderson and Immobile. Furthermore, the defender Casale (Bologna), the midfielders Cataldi (Fiorentina) and Marcos Antonio (Sao Paulo), the disappointment Kagawa (Crystal Palace) and the less important Luis Maximiano (Almeria), Raul Moro (Valladolid) and Cancellieri (Parma ) are also gone. Several items have been recruited or purchased permanently. This is the case of defenders Gigot (OM) and Nuno Tavares (Arsenal), midfielders Guendouzi (OM), Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor) and Castrovilli (Fiorentina) and attackers Tchaouna (Salernitana), Noslin (Hellas Verona) and Dia (Salernitana).