Europa League Preview: Lazio’s Main Striker Continues Scoring Streak, Nice Suffers Six Consecutive Defeats Against Serie A Teams

On October 4 at 00:45, the Europa League’s second round will see Lazio host French powerhouse Nice at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Lazio secured a narrow 3-2 away victory against the season’s dark horse, Torino, on September 29 in the sixth round of Serie A. The team’s new summer signing, Nosling, scored his first goal for Lazio in the dying moments of the game, sealing the win in this tough away match. Additionally, Senegalese striker Dia, signed from Salernitana to replace top scorer Immobile, has also achieved the feat of scoring in consecutive games. This skilled striker has netted five goals in the last five matches across all competitions, showcasing impressive form. Speaking about the team’s recent performances, Lazio’s new coach, Baroni, said, “From day one, I immediately said that I have a strong squad at my disposal.”

In the current Serie A standings, Lazio sits seventh with three wins, one draw, and two losses, just one point behind the top five. This season, despite a slow start, they possess substantial attacking power. In their three home games this season, Lazio drew with AC Milan, a formidable opponent, and easily defeated mid-to-lower table teams Verona and Venezia. Moreover, Lazio has won all three of their recent continental matches at the Stadio Olimpico, including an unexpected 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich. The team has scored in 15 consecutive games, presenting a significant challenge to Nice’s defense in this match.

In terms of lineup, Lazio’s coach Baroni may follow the approach used in the 3-0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv in the first round by making some rotations. In defense, Spanish center-back Patrick, who recently returned from injury, is likely to start, while veteran Pedro, who performed well in the first round, is expected to be included in the starting eleven. However, the hero of the previous league match, Nosling, will serve a suspension due to a red card.

Nice finished fifth in Ligue 1 last season with 15 wins, 10 draws, and 9 losses, securing direct qualification to the Europa League group stage. However, their performance in the current league campaign has been disappointing. They lost 2-1 to Auxerre in their season opener and were held to a draw by Toulouse, although they regained confidence with an 8-0 home win over Saint-Etienne on September 21. In their most recent league match, Nice played out a goalless draw away to Lens amid a congested schedule, failing to create significant chances even with a numerical advantage.

In the current Ligue 1 standings, Nice holds eight points and ranks ninth. However, their away form has been inconsistent, scoring only one goal in their other three away games besides the 4-1 victory over Angers in the third round. In the first round of the Europa League proper, Nice was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Real Sociedad, with their main striker Gaisan missing a crucial penalty in the second half. Such mistakes are hard to accept for a team aiming to progress to the knockout stages of the Europa League.

In terms of lineup, Nice might also make some rotations. Their starting left-back Bal is currently sidelined due to injury, so 30-year-old Tunisian Abdi could step in. Furthermore, Nice’s forward Mohamed Shaw, midfielder Sanson, striker Murphy, and right-winger Raboud are listed as doubtful, while 23-year-old Gaisan and 19-year-old Mokoko are available for selection.

In their three previous encounters, Lazio has always emerged victorious. Notably, Nice has suffered six consecutive defeats in their recent European matches against Serie A teams. As they travel to Rome to face old rival Lazio again, what kind of sparks will the two teams generate?

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