Our prediction for this Serie A match:
Lazio play host to Verona at their Stadio Olimpico in the closing match of the Serie A round 4. The Biancocelesti have been having their ups and downs in the new season, with the team beating Venezia, losing to Udinese, while sharing the spoils with AC Milan. It is well known that over the years Lazio have turned Stadio Olimpico into a real fortress, but they will have to showcase their worth on the field. As new boss Marco Baroni has a full squad to choose from, home win should be considered.
The Mastini, on the other hand, aim to build on a 2-0 win over Genoa. Verona, though have been struggling in “the Eternal City” in recent years, losing each of their last meetings with Lazio in Rome and, taking everything into account, home win should be considered. Both Suat Serdar and Juan Manuel Cruz are out of contention with injuries for the visiting side.
Highlighted Player (Manuel Lazzari):
Born in Valdagno, Italy on November 29, 1993, Manuel Lazzari is a midfielder who plays for Serie A side SPAL. Lazzari played for the youth teams of Montecchio Maggiore at the start of his football career and in 2011 he moved to Delta Rovigo.
After spending the 2011/2012 season at the club, Manuel Lazzarri joined Giacomense in the summer of 2012 and it has to be noted that he made 24 appearances in the league for the club. At the end of the 2012/2013 season the 174-cm-tall footballer moved to SPAL and he quickly established himself as a first-team regular at the club.
Manuel Lazzari had seven assists in 39 appearances for SPAL in the 2016/2017 Serie B campaign and, no doubt, he helped the club secure promotion to the Italian elite division. His main position is right midfield, but he can play as both right-back and right winger if needed. Manuel Lazzari’s contract with SPAL should expire on June 30, 2021.
Highlighted Team (Verona):
Founded back in 1903, Hellas Verona are a professional football club that compete in the Italian Serie A. The “Mastini” are well known for their yellow and blue jerseys and they welcome their opponents at Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi. Hellas Verona share rivalry with Chievo Verona and the two local rivals face each other in the “Derby della Scala”.
The first derby of Verona was played on November 18, 2001, with Hellas Verona emerging triumphant (3-2). In 1985 the Mastini won their first and only Scudetto, with the team finishing the season in top position in the Serie A standings, four points clear of second-placed Torino. The likes of Preben Elkjaer, Giuseppe Calderisi, Hans-Peter Briegel, Pietro Fanna and Antonio Di Gennaro led Hellas Verona to the historical success.
However, the most famous footballer who played for Verona is Romania international Adrian Mutu, who scored 16 goals in 57 appearances in the league for the Stadio Marc’ Antonio Bentegodi outfit. Verona will compete in the Italian top flight in the 2017/2018 season as they finished the 2016/2017 Serie B campaign in second position in the table.