The Stadio Olimpico is the stage for this Europa League group stage encounter as Lazio and Marseille go at each other on Thursday. Read on for our expert tips and predictions.
Back in the 2018/2019 season, both sides were pitted in the same Europa League group, however, it was the Italians who were the better side across both legs as they picked up six points off their opponents.
Highly-anticipated encounter on the cards
Having lost in the worst possible way against Galatasaray on matchday one, the Italian capital side secured their first win in the group with a 2-0 victory against Lokomotiv Moscow. Two first-half goals from Basic and Patric made sure of the victory for Sarri's troops as they picked up some steam. Although they failed to replicate a similar performance just before the international break against Bologna, they certainly showed how good they are last weekend against the defending champions Internazionale. Luiz Felipe's sending off didn't stop them from claiming three points at the Stadio Olimpico against their former boss Simone Inzaghi as they rode on to a 3-1 win- Immobile, Anderson and Milinkovic-Savic all on the scoresheet. This stretched their unbeaten run at home to 12 games in all competitions, winning 10 of those games.
It's just two points on the board for Olympique Marseille as they head into their third group stage game in 3rd position. It is safe to say Jorge Sampaoli's troops haven't been as opportunistic as one would expect given that at some point in those two group games, the match was theirs to be won. Having failed to take advantage of 10-man Lokomotiv Moscow, they were let down by their profligacy in front of goal against Galatasaray on matchday two. Nonetheless, it seems Jorge Sampaoli has finally found the optimum attacking formula as they got back to winning ways over the weekend against Lorient. Would they use this same momentum to get the better of Lazio on Thursday ?
Lazio vs Marseille Team News
Lazio possible starting XI:
Strakosha; Lazzari, Felipe, Acerbi, Hysaj; Alberto, Leiva, Milinkovic-Savic; Pedro, Immobile, Anderson
Marseille possible starting XI:
Lopez; Saliba, Gonzalez, Peres; Lirola, Kamara, Guendouzi; Under, Payet, De la Fuente; Milik
Lazio vs Marseille Prediction: 3-2
We expect goals aplenty in Italy on Thursday with both sides boasting top-quality attacking players. However, better sides have tried to get the better or I Biancocelesti at the Stadio Olimpico and they've fall failed. As such, we don't expect their 12-game unbeaten run on home soil to come to an end.