Two teams enjoying some superb form will meet at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, as Lazio and Bologna both aim to extend winning streaks in Serie A.
Before the international break, Lazio surged up the standings with four straight successes, while their Rossoblu rivals finally started turning draws into wins.
Match preview
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Last time out, a first-half strike from captain Mattia Zaccagni proved enough to maintain Lazio's exceptional start to the season, as the capital club's 1-0 victory over lowly Monza took them within one point of top spot.
Only three points cover Italy's top six after Saturday's action, and Marco Baroni's men are very much in the mix for an unexpected title challenge as things stand - recent results back up any claim to be contenders.
Lazio have won 10 of their last 11 matches between Serie A and the Europa League, which also sees them topping the latter competition's league table.
The sole setback came when losing 1-0 to Juventus in Turin, having gone down to 10 men before the half-hour mark, and they could now win seven top-flight games in a row for the first time since 2017.
Former Hellas Verona boss Baroni was not a particularly popular appointment in Rome, but the squad have certainly responded to his methods: Lazio have improved their points tally by a league-high eight compared to this stage last season.
Unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 home games against Bologna in Serie A, the Biancocelesti will also have history on their side when the teams' Sunday night contest kicks off.
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However, Bologna can claim to have taken the upper hand, after doing the double over Lazio last term; indeed, they will be gunning for a third straight success against the Biancocelesti - something the Emilian club last managed some 44 years ago.
Buoyed by beating another capital-city side last time out, Vincenzo Italiano's side have recently risen up the table, putting together an impressive nine-match unbeaten run in domestic football.
Goals from Santiago Castro, Jesper Karlsson and in-form skipper Riccardo Orsolini saw Bologna secure a 3-2 victory over Roma just before the international break, as their fine form on the road continued.
While Lazio have accrued the most points from home games this season, Bologna's tally of 11 away from home leaves them level with Juventus, Inter Milan, Fiorentina and Napoli at the top of that ranking.
After a slightly shaky start - including some disappointing results in Europe - Italiano has led the Rossoblu to their second-best performance after 11 league matches since the turn of the century.
However, they are still seeking their first goal and first win in the Champions League, making next week's home clash with Lille almost a must-win - and they now face a tough trip to Stadio Olimpico.
Team News
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Having made a major impact by featuring high on the assist list for Europe's top five leagues, Lazio left-back Nuno Tavares will be missing this weekend, as the ex-Arsenal defender sustained a minor muscular injury while away with Portugal.
Luca Pellegrini should therefore step into the Biancocelesti's starting XI, but Marco Baroni may decide to keep his team otherwise unchanged from that which lined up against Monza.
Providing Pedro overcomes an illness that prevented him from training earlier this week, the former Spain winger could join Mattia Zaccagni and either Boulaye Dia or top scorer Taty Castellanos in the final third.
Senegal striker Dia tested positive for malaria last week, before being re-tested and subsequently cleared to play, while Argentina's Castellanos only returned from South America on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Bologna's main threat could come from Riccardo Orsolini, who has scored the first goal more times than any other player in Serie A this season - four of his five strikes have come with the score at 0-0. The visitors' captain will be aiming to score in five consecutive league appearances and should support Santiago Castro up front.
Nicolo Cambiaghi, Oussama El Azzouzi and Michel Aebischer are still out of action due to injury, while goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski has been laid low by illness; Swiss winger Dan Ndoye badly bruised his shin during the win over Roma and remains a doubt for Sunday's return to the Eternal City.
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Vecino, Rovella, Guendouzi; Pedro, Castellanos, Zaccagni
Bologna possible starting lineup:
Ravaglia; De Silvestri, Beukema, Casale, Miranda; Freuler, Pobega; Orsolini, Odgaard, Karlsson; Castro
We say: Lazio 2-1 Bologna
Averaging over two goals per game this season, Lazio are sure to put Bologna's back line through a thorough test, as they are spoiled for in-form options.
The Rossoblu have proved difficult to beat in Serie A, but their undefeated streak may finally be ended by free-scoring opponents.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
