Italian Cup: Lazio vs FiorentinaIn the last phase of the competition Lazio eliminated Napoli. A triumph at Olimpico and a draw away were enough for Biancoceleste to find their place among eight teams that will fight for the cup this season. Their next rival are Fiorentina, that eliminated Ascoli in the last phase of the competition.
Desperate season for Lazio …
Lazio weren’t a shadow of the team that were third last year. The team were eliminated from the Champions League; they are in the bottom part of the standings (only 3 points ahead of Empoli that are penultimate on the standings) and they can’t manage to start the series of good results that would secure the team in the middle. The cup is the only competition where they can mark a significant success this season, but they have Fiorentina as the obstacle now. Viola already celebrated at Olimpico and they also weren’t defeated last season (1:1). The team are troubled by injuries – Mutarelli, Sviglia, Rocchi and Firmani are questionable for this game, and Mudingavi certainly won’t be able to take up his lace in the midfield for this game.
Fiorentina are out of crisis…
Viola were in a crisis in the middle of November that lasted a month. Still, since the triumph in UEFA Cup (3:2 win against Mlada Boleslav) started their series of five undefeated matches. Last weekend they beat Torino at home and they will travel to Rome filled with self-confidence. They outmatched Lazio in the championship this season and it is quite possible that they do it again. Fiorentina are aware of the crisis in which the Roman club is and Mutu and Vieri will certainly know to find their way to Balotta’s net and provide their team with a favourable result. Manager Prandelli will field the strongest line-up and only midfielder Dainelli is out of the team for this game.
Betting verdict
This season Prandelli's team managed to take three points at Olimpico. Viola are in better form at the moment that the hosts but this is a Cup game. Italian clubs don’t try too hard in this competition, so we believe that teams won’t be extremely motivated in this game. That is why we expect a tough and closed match where one goal will decide the winner. In the last two matches in Rome we saw three goals so our first choice is under 2.5 goals and we believe that Fiorentina will celebrate.
Our tip: Bet 6 on Under 2.5 goals
Odds 1.7 at
Bookmaker: Gamebookers
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