Lazio – Salernitana

Lazio should redeem themselves for recent failures

Igor Tudor made a successful debut for Lazio, but the next two fixtures were not so favourable for his team. After beating Juventus with a minimum score in the league, the clubs met in the Coppa Italia. In the cup game, the Old Lady was already stronger. Thanks to goals from Chiesa and Vlahovic in the second half, Torino managed to secure a good lead before the return leg. The Biancocelesti were also unlucky with their next opponent. In the 31st round, the Eagles had to face Wolves in the Derby della Capitale. As always, the meeting was rich in emotion, but not in goals. The outcome of the match was decided by Mancini's spectacular header. Hardly a disappointing first leg in the cup and a defeat in the derby is the start that the Croatian specialist wanted. However, a week's time was clearly not enough for any global changes. Already in those games, though, the seeds of Igor Tudor's typical aggressive football were visible. Salernitana broke a three-match losing streak with a draw against Sassuolo. The team managed to get a point thanks to Maggiore's goal on 90+1 minutes. However, Stefano Colantuono's successful debut will hardly affect the outcome of his new club's disappointing season. The Garnet have picked up only 15 points in 31 rounds and are hopelessly behind almost the same number of points from the saving 17th place. The team has conceded 64 goals - more than any other. Lazio's league position leaves much to be desired. With seven games to go, the Biancocelesti are in eighth place with 46 points. The gap from fourth place is 12 points, but the gap from the less prestigious European tournaments is slightly smaller. However, the Romans have a very acceptable calendar. Tudor's charges will have to play against Genoa, Verona, Monza, Empoli, Inter and Sassuolo. It should be said that at the Olimpico, the Eagles have a goal scoring deficit according to the xG metric. Thus, the Biancocelesti should score 5.67 more goals than they did. It is crucial for Lazio to rehabilitate themselves in the eyes of the tiffosi after the derby debacle. And although the defeat of poor Salernitana can hardly be considered equal moral compensation, it must take place.