Seeking to consolidate second place in Serie A, Champions League hopefuls Lazio travel to the Stadio Alberto Picco to face 17th-placed Spezia on Friday.
While the visitors have put together a six-game unbeaten run on the road, the hosts are looking to extend their three-match unbeaten streak on home soil.
Match preview
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Spezia recorded their 11th Serie A draw of the season and their seventh since the turn of the year when they played out a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina last weekend.
After an own goal from Przemyslaw Wisniewski had opened the scoring for La Viola in the 25th minute, M'Bala Nzola netted his 13th league goal of the season to restore parity for the visitors seven minutes later.
Only Udinese (12) have drawn more Serie A matches than Spezia this season and Leonardo Semplici's side are still embroiled in a relegation dogfight, now sitting just four points above the drop zone following Hellas Verona's win over Sassuolo.
Although Spezia have won only one of their last 11 league matches, Semplici has seen slight improvements in defence as they have conceded no more than one goal in their last five games in comparison to at least two goals conceded in their previous six.
However, keeping Lazio quiet in front of goal could prove challenging for Spezia on Friday as they have conceded 14 goals in their last three meetings with Le Aquile, including a 4-0 away defeat earlier this season.
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Following notable triumphs over leaders Napoli and top-four rivals Roma last month, Lazio boosted their hopes of securing Champions League football for next season when they recorded a 2-1 home victory against Juventus last weekend.
A 38th-minute opener from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic was cancelled out just four minutes later by Adrien Rabiot, but a well-worked team goal finished off by Mattia Zaccagni eight minutes after the break ultimately helped Lazio secure maximum points for the 17th time this season.
Maurizio Sarri's men remain second in the table and are currently winning the battle to be the best of the rest behind runaway leaders Napoli, with their latest victory keeping them five points clear of third-placed Roma, while seven points separate them from Inter Milan in fifth.
With no European football or domestic cup fixtures to contend with, following their Europa Conference League last-16 exit in March and Coppa Italia quarter-final elimination in February, Lazio can focus solely on Serie A duties and will be confident of continuing their strong run of form on Friday having won each of their last five meetings with Spezia by an aggregate score of 18-6.
While Lazio deserve plenty of plaudits for their attacking exploits, they have also excelled at the back as they have only conceded one goal in their last seven Serie A matches. Sarri's side have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four away games, and another shutout on Friday would see them record five in a row on the road for the first time since 1998 under former boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Team News
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Spezia quartet Joao Moutinho, Mattia Caldara, Emil Holm and Julius Beck all remain sidelined with injuries, while Viktor Kovalenko and Jacopo Sala are both doubtful due to illness.
Semplici is expected to stick with the same back four of Kelvin Amian, Przemyslaw Wisniewski, Ethan Ampadu and Dimitris Nikolaou along with goalkeeper Bartlomiej Drągowski who all kept Milan quiet last time out.
There could be a change in attack, though, with Daniele Verde pushing to join Nzola and Daniel Maldini in the front three, which could see Emmanuel Gyasi lose his place in the first XI.
Lazio, meanwhile, are blessed with a clean bill of health at present, and Sarri could be tempted to name an unchanged starting lineup.
Adam Marusic will be hoping to keep his place at right-back ahead of Manuel Lazzari, joining Nicolo Casale, Alessio Romagnoli and Elseid Hysaj in the back four, while Milinkovic Savic – who scored twice in a 4-0 win over Spezia in October – is set to be joined in centre-midfield by Danilo Cataldi and Luis Alberto.
Felipe Anderson will battle to keep his place on the right flank ahead of 35-year-old Pedro, while Ciro Immobile and Zaccagni are expected to start again in attack.
Spezia possible starting lineup:
Dragowski; Amian, Wisniewski, Ampadu, Nikolaou; Bourabia, Ekdal, Zurkowski; Verde, Nzola, Maldini
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Marusic, Casale, Romagnoli, Hysaj; Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi, Alberto; Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni
We say: Spezia 0-2 Lazio
Lazio have comfortably swept aside Spezia in recent meetings, but a tighter affair could be in store on Friday considering the hosts' improvements over the last two weeks.
Nevertheless, Lazio should have too much strength in the final third and will be regarded as firm favourites to come out on top at the Stadio Alberto Picco.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
