Late-goal specialists Lazio will aim to stay on the tails of Serie A's top four when they meet mid-table Udinese on Monday evening.
The Rome club have twice won with 98th-minute strikes in the past week, while their in-form visitors have claimed 13 points from the last 15 available.
Match preview
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Four days after Pedro's last-gasp penalty sent top-four rivals AC Milan to a 2-1 defeat at San Siro, Lazio repeated the trick in their Europa League last-16 tie versus Viktoria Plzen, despite going down to nine men.
Fighting it out to face either Bodo/Glimt or Olympiacos in the quarter-finals, their first leg clash was apparently heading for a 1-1 draw after both Nicolo Rovella and Samuel Gigot had seen red, but a dramatic late twist now makes the Italian side favourites to progress.
Gustav Isaksen's 98th-minute screamer secured victory against all the odds, continuing Lazio's record of finishing with a flourish: they have also scored the most Serie A goals (six) in second-half stoppage time this season.
Locked in a battle with Bologna, Juventus, Fiorentina and perhaps even arch-rivals Roma to claim Champions League qualification via a top-four domestic finish, they can also consider taking the Europa League route into UEFA's elite competition.
However, Marco Baroni's men must first try to re-find top form on home turf: they have won only one of their last six league games at Stadio Olimpico - against rock-bottom Monza - after dropping just two points throughout the first seven.
As Lazio have also lost their last two matches against Udinese - both 2-1, in March and August last year - they cannot afford to be complacent.
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In recent years, Udinese's once dismal record versus Lazio has distinctly improved, with three wins apiece and four draws across the teams' last 10 league meetings.
The Friulani had lost nine times in the previous 10, but they now head for Italy's capital city unbeaten in four away games against Monday's hosts.
Confidence will be sky-high, too, after Florian Thauvin's first-half goal earned victory over lowly Parma last weekend, making it four wins from five since the start of February.
Udinese have therefore won their last three league fixtures without conceding a single goal, and the last time they put together a better such streak was between April and May 2012.
As a result, the Bianconeri occupy a top-half place and will avoid any repeat of last term's scrap for survival: coach Kosta Runjaic has worked wonders with a similar squad to that which nearly dropped into Serie B.
Indeed, Udinese boast the largest positive difference between points obtained in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns, with 15 more on the board than at this stage last year.
Team News
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Before hosting Plzen in the second leg of their Europa League tie, Lazio are sure to make changes to Thursday's starting XI.
Captain Mattia Zaccagni - who was sidelined by a muscular issue in midweek but has played a part in seven goals across his last seven league matches - could be ready to return; however, Elseid Hysaj and top scorer Taty Castellanos are still unavailable.
In the latter's absence, either Loum Tchaouna or Tijjani Noslin should lead the hosts' attack, with support from Boulaye Dia.
Having been forgiven for his incredible spot-kick squabble in Lecce, Lorenzo Lucca spearhead's Udinese's front line. Following a public apology, the Italy international allowed designated taker Florian Thauvin to dispatch last week's winning penalty.
Meanwhile, Thauvin - who has previously been involved in three Serie A goals against Lazio - is enjoying his best scoring campaign since 2020-21 for Marseille.
After losing back-up goalkeeper Razvan Sava to injury, Kosta Runjaic turned to 39-year-old Daniele Padelli against Parma; previous number one Maduka Okoye has recently returned to fitness, though, and could be selected instead.
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen, Dia, Zaccagni; Tchaouna
Udinese possible starting lineup:
Padelli; Kristensen, Bijol, Solet, Kamara; Atta, Lovric, Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp; Thauvin, Lucca
We say: Lazio 2-1 Udinese
In fine form and posing a real threat up front, Udinese will not be beaten easily by a Lazio side that has one eye on Europe.
Yet, the hosts have scored more goals in the last 15 minutes of play of any Serie A team this season - no fewer than 18 - so another late winner cannot be counted out.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
