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Lazio will be looking to shake off a 2-0 derby defeat to Roma when they take on a relegation-threatened Torino midweek. The Biancocelesti are guaranteed to finish sixth in the league. There is still a lot at stake for Torino – who are flirting with relegation.
Two of Italy’s most prominent forwards – Ciro Immobile and Andrea Belotti – will go head to head midweek when Lazio take on Torino. Both the strikers have led their teams from the front this season. They have scored a combined 33 goals in the league, with Immobile responsible for more. The one who scores on the night could well secure a win for his team.
Defensively, both Lazio and Torino have had their issues. The Biancocelesti have shipped off 53 goals this season – a major reason behind their struggles. They won’t be returning to the Champions League next season, as a 2-0 loss against AS Roma confirmed their elimination from the top-four race. Simone Inzaghi’s men have secured a spot in next season’s Europa League, though, and are guaranteed to finish sixth.
Torino’s defensive issues are slightly more pronounced than Lazio’s. Davide Nicola’s team has conceded 68 goals this campaign, with 11 coming in their last two matches. Torino first lost 7-0 to Milan before following it up with a 4-1 reverse against Spezia. They are flirting dangerously with relegation and are currently 17th in the table. A win would secure their status as a top-flight club for another year, but a loss could prove to be costly with just one more game to go.
Il Toro’s final match of the season is against 18th-placed Benevento, who are currently three points behind them. The two teams played out a 2-2 draw when they met earlier in the campaign.
Key Players
Despite scoring 20 times in the league already this season, Ciro Immobile endured a largely frustrating night against Roma on the weekend. The Italian was shackled by the Roman defense and will look to make up for the lost opportunities against Il Toro. The striker has scored the joint fifth-most goals in the league this season, and consequently, is his team’s top scorer.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has had better days at the office than the 2-0 defeat against AS Roma. The derby humiliation ensured an uneventful end to Lazio’s inconsistent season, with the Biancocelesti no longer eligible to qualify for the Champions League. The failure to qualify for Europe’s top club competition could force several players into quitting the club, including the Serbian midfielder. Were he to depart this summer, the Biancocelesti would find it difficult to replace him in their starting eleven.
Andrea Belotti’s prolificacy has never been in doubt. However, his numbers have taken a hit this season, albeit that is down to his team suffering throughout the year. The Italian has still managed to register 20 goal contributions this campaign – 13 goals and 7 assists. He is Torino’s leading goal scorer, as well as assist provider. A summer exit looms for the striker, with many of Europe’s top clubs on the lookout for a hitman.
Torino’s defensive record is nothing to boast about. Il Toro have conceded 68 goals this season, which is a key reason behind their troubles. However, Torino plays a system that uses the full width of the pitch through the wingbacks. To that end, their game plans have worked. Cristian Ansaldi is the team’s second-highest assist provider behind Belotti with six. He has also scored one goal this season.
Prediction
Torino have scored 11 goals in their previous two matches. Davide Nicola’s side were at the end of a 7-0 thrashing at the hands of AC Milan. To make matters worse, they then shipped four goals to a struggling Spezia side on the weekend, ensuring the latter’s safety. They are defensively among the worst sides in the league – 68 goals conceded from 36 matches a testament to the same. Now, they will have to face Lazio and their hitman – Ciro Immobile. Things can go from bad to worse for Il Toro.
Lazio have nothing left to play for this season. The Biancocelesti were knocked out of the UCL qualification race on the weekend, but their points total means they cannot be caught up. Simone Inzaghi’s side will finish sixth despite the results of their final two league matches. However, Simone could do his brother, Filippo, a favor by beating Torino in their penultimate match.
Only three points separate Torino and Benevento at this moment. Torino will be safe from relegation if they beat Lazio, but a loss would set up a straight clash between the two teams on the final day of the season. Neither side has the advantage in the head-to-head as well, given that their previous match ended in a 2-2 draw. Given their form, it looks unlikely that Nicola’s side will manage to get anything out of their match against the Biancocelesti, which should enable the aforementioned relegation scenario.
