Salernitana welcome mid-table Lazio to Stadio Arechi in the first round 13 encounter of the Serie A weekend on Saturday.
The cellar dwellers are winless this season, while Maurizio Sarri's men picked up one point from an available six before the international break.
Match preview
© Reuters
Salernitana's managerial change has not had the desired effect, with Filippo Inzaghi still awaiting his first league success since replacing Paulo Sousa in early October.
The club from Salerno thought a first Serie A victory in 2023-24 was on the cards after racing to a 2-0 lead at Sassuolo, only for the Neroverdi to peg them back as it ended 2-2.
In the end, the Granata were hanging on for a point as Guillermo Ochoa was forced into several saves to prevent a third consecutive defeat and an eighth to start the season.
The upshot of Salernitana's point in the previous round means Inzaghi's team are the only side in the competition yet to pick up maximum points this season, as Cagliari and Udinese have won games in recent gameweeks.
Be that as it may, they are only five points adrift of 17th-placed Empoli, meaning their winless start is not unsalvageable, even if that first win must come soon to prevent the gap from widening.
© Reuters
As for Lazio, the Biancocelesti are keen to add to Salernitana's misery by securing maximum points after a two-game winless run in Serie A.
Sarri's troops played out a goalless Derby della Capitale with Roma before the international break, an encounter surprisingly low on drama to match the pre-game back and forth between the Lazio boss and Jose Mourinho.
The point prevented back-to-back defeats for the capital club, whose three-game winning run has been followed by a seeming dip to slow down their rise in the standings.
Last season's second-placed side rank 10th after 12 league games and are keen to push for a continued European berth in a developing cluster from third-placed Milan (23 points) to Sarri's men (17 points).
It remains to be seen if Lazio return to winning ways on Saturday, but it will be timely for the Biancocelesti, who could rise to fifth if results elsewhere go their way.
Team News
© Reuters
Ochoa's shoulder injury should keep the Mexican goalkeeper out until December, while Loum Tchaouna and Jovane Cabral are missing Saturday's game with muscle problems.
Inzaghi switched to a back four recently, and Salernitana are not expected to change tack for the visit of Lazio.
Luis Alberto misses this weekend's action due to suspension after picking up his fifth yellow of the season in the derby a fortnight back.
Sarri must make do without the injured Matias Vecino (muscle), Adam Marusic (ankle) and Mattia Zaccagni (knee) until next month.
Salernitana possible starting lineup:
Fiorillo; Daniliuc, Fazio, Pirola, Mazzocchi; Maggiore, Bohinen, Coulibaly; Candreva, Ikwuemesi, Dia
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Lazzari, Patric, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Guendouzi, Rovella, Kamada; Anderson, Immobile, Pedro
We say: Salernitana 0-1 Lazio
While Lazio have lost three of their last five away games, those defeats were to Milan, Juventus and Bologna, and they should return to winning ways on Saturday with a marginal victory in Salerno.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
