Lazio Roma vs. Empoli: Preview and betting tips

Lazio will play their first game of 2022 on Thursday, hosting table neighbours Empoli. Will the Romans confirm their role as favourites, or will the away side take the points and move closer to Lazio in the table?

Lazio came into good form in December, winning three of their last four games, but they are not satisfied with their position in the table. It is only eighth, on the other hand it is only three points behind fifth-placed Juventus.

Empoli is one of the pleasant surprises of the competition, only one place and four points behind Lazio, but the priority remains to save the team. Empoli has a sixteen-point lead on the relegation zone.

Ciro Immobile has been pulling for the home side in recent years, the Italian international has scored thirteen times in this league season. Serbian central midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic boasts five goals and six assists.

Nedim Bajrami shines in the visitors’ jersey, the Albanian offensive midfielder has scored four goals and assisted four in Serie A. Italy’s U21 international Andrea Pinamonti has scored seven times and assisted once as a top striker.

Lazio play most of their games in the style of “The more goals we score, the more points we have”. With thirty-nine goals, they have the third best offense in the league, but on the other hand they have the worst defense in the first half of the table (34 goals scored).

Empoli is more modest in this respect. Only Juventus and Bologna have scored fewer goals among the teams from the top half of the table. Empoli has thirty hits.

Given Lazio’s December form, I think the home side will win.