Sixth-placed Lazio welcome struggling Parma to the Stadio Olimpico on Monday, with both sides living in very different worlds this season. Lazio, perched on 59 points, are eyeing a strong finish and a ticket to Europe, while Parma, marooned in 15th with just 31 points, are simply trying to limp over the finish line.
Two teams, two very different missions — and under the bright Roman lights, only one can walk away smiling.
Lazio kept their momentum rolling earlier this week, brushing aside Genoa 2-0. Valentín Castellanos struck in the first half, and Boulaye Dia slammed the door shut after the break, stretching the Biancocelesti’s unbeaten Serie A run to four games.
In their 67 previous clashes across all competitions, Lazio have been the dominant force, claiming 30 victories compared to Parma’s 16.
However, not all news is good for the hosts: Reda Belahyane will sit this one out after his red card in the Genoa win, while Manuel Lazzari, Nuno Tavares, and Patric are all nursing injuries.
Still, with Castellanos leading the line (10 goals, three assists), and deadly support from Boulaye Dia and Mattia Zaccagni, Lazio won't be short of firepower under the Monday night lights.
LAZIO predicted lineup vs PARMA: Mandas (GK); Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Rovella, Guendouzi; Isaksen, Dia, Zaccagni; Castellanos.
Parma are quietly building momentum, riding a six-game unbeaten streak in Serie A. They finally broke free from a string of five straight draws on Wednesday, edging Juventus 1-0 thanks to a Mateo Pellegrino strike deep into first-half stoppage time.
They’ll draw confidence from the reverse fixture too, having toppled Lazio 3-1 back in December.
However, boss Cristian Chivu is juggling a growing injury list: Adrian Benedyczak, Adrian Bernabe, and Valentin Mihaila are all touch-and-go, while Alessandro Vogliacco, Gabriel Charpentier, Mateusz Kowalski, and Yordan Osorio are ruled out.
Still, Parma have a real spark in Ange-Yoan Bonny, who with six goals and three assists this season, will be looking to light it up once again on the big stage.
PARMA predicted lineup vs LAZIO: Suzuki (GK); Delprato, Leoni, Valenti; Hainaut, Hernani, Keita, Sohm, Valeri; Pellegrino, Bonny.
With everything still on the line, Monday’s clash between Lazio and Parma promises to be a tense, hard-fought affair.
Lazio are battling to lock down a top-six finish, while Parma are still scrapping for survival, and with so much at stake, neither side will be willing to give an inch.
Both teams have shown their resilience lately — Lazio are unbeaten in four, while Parma have stubbornly ground out four consecutive away draws — so another cagey, low-scoring battle could well be on the cards at the Olimpico.
Prediction: Draw.
