Lazio vs Cagliari – News and Probable Lineups

Lazio is aiming to continue their remarkable start to the Serie A season this Sunday, as they host Cagliari at Stadio Olimpico.

This season marks the first time since they last claimed the Scudetto that the Biancocelesti are unbeaten in their opening nine league fixtures, while their opponents are still in Rome after facing yet another defeat during the midweek.

Match overview

With the top spot in Serie A within reach, Lazio briefly occupied the first position on Tuesday night after a commanding 6-2 victory over 10-man Sassuolo in Reggio Emilia.

Tijjani Noslin scored two goals as the Biancocelesti surged ahead of the defending champions Inter de Milão with another triumph, securing seven wins from their eight matches to date.

Although Inter quickly regained their top position with a win in Venice, they lead only by goal difference, and hopeful Lazio supporters might even envision a first title since the 1999-2000 season.

Gennaro Gattuso is unlikely to entertain such discussions, despite his team’s impressive defensive performance, which has seen them score at least twice in each of their last seven Serie A outings.

This represents the best record for the capital club since Simone Inzaghi’s side managed 12 consecutive games scoring two or more in 2020 when they were contending for the Scudetto prior to the COVID-19 interruptions.

Lazio has also averaged over two goals per match, winning 13 of their last 14 encounters against Cagliari at Stadio Olimpico, where a fan boycott will result in many empty seats yet again this weekend.

Cagliari has not managed to defeat Lazio in 22 Serie A matches since 2013, with their only positive result during that time being a goalless draw last February, which interrupted a sequence of six consecutive losses.

Even more troubling for the Rossoblu is their recent dismal performance, having dropped off significantly after a strong start to the current season.

After winning four out of their first six league games, Cagliari has now lost their last three fixtures, and they went over 250 minutes without finding the back of the net leading up to Tuesday’s encounter with Roma.

Prior to their match against Lazio, Fabio Pisacane’s side faced the Biancocelesti’s city rivals at the Olimpico, coming close to pulling off a stunning upset.

Having taken an early advantage, they found themselves down 2-1 until the 81st minute, when substitute Daniel Maldini dramatically equalized; however, Roma responded with two late goals.

Team News

With no European commitments to distract him, Gattuso has made few changes to his lineup thus far, and he is expected to field a settled Lazio side on Sunday, despite having more options now.

Adam Marusic and Nicolo Rovella have both returned from injury, and Andrea Pinamonti recovered from illness just in time to compete against his former club Sassuolo in midweek, leaving only Albert Gudmundsson on the sidelines.

Noslin will need to outpace Pinamonti for a spot in the attack, but captain Mattia Zaccagni remains a staple on the left wing, having returned to peak form with seven goal involvements in Serie A this season.

Conversely, Maldini is Cagliari’s standout player: having scored two goals in 12 appearances against Lazio last season, the Italian forward has already netted five in his first nine for Cagliari.

Pisacane will have to cope without long-term absentees Riyad Idrissi and Mattia Felici, while Harry Winks sustained a back problem during the recent defeat to Bologna and is still struggling.

On a more positive note, young striker Yael Trepy made his return to the field and nearly scored against Roma, coming back two months after a near-drowning incident that led to him being placed in an induced coma.

Lazio probable starting XI:

Mandas; Floriani Mussolini, Doekhi, Proxgaard, Tavares; Frattesi, Belahyane, Taylor; Isaksen, Noslin, Zaccagni

Cagliari probable starting XI:

Caprile; Ze Pedro, Mina, Rodriguez, Obert; Adopo, Deiola, Romano; Massolin, Maldini; Mendy

With Lazio in fine scoring form, Cagliari’s alarming defensive issues present a troubling combination for the visitors this matchday.

Thus, the hosts are set to continue their winning streak, while the visitors may face their second defeat in Rome within just five days.