Porto will be looking to make the most of home advantage
In the intermediate round of the UEFA Europa League, two bigger names meet for a direct duel. FC Porto welcome Lazio Roma and those who know the Estadio do Dragao will be able to guess what kind of atmosphere is likely to prevail in this match
Prior to the match between Porto and Lazio Roma, the betting odds indicate that the hosts are favourites. However, it remains to be stated that the differences between the teams are not too great. Lazio also have quality, but have not always played consistently this season.
This season, both teams must remember, the away goals rule no longer applies in these competitions. Maybe Lazio will tactic a bit more then, but their defence hasn’t been that solid to rely on at any time. Kick-off for this game is late on Thursday at 9pm.
Porto – Statistics & current form
FC Porto are currently leading the league in Portugal with a six-point advantage over their pursuers Sporting CP. In the winter they lost two important players, Luis Diaz and Corona, but the team is currently in good shape. The dress rehearsal for the match against Lazio Roma on Friday against Sporting, the closest rivals, ended 2:2. It was a wild game with several sending-offs.
Just how good Porto are in domestic competitions is evident when you look at the statistics. Porto won 13 of their last 14 games in the domestic context, the only defeat in their last 15 games was against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
The Italians, however, are quite a decent calibre and an opponent not to be taken lightly. Only a few teams in Portugal have this individual quality, so the game is a welcome opportunity to assess their performance. The hosts will most likely have to go to the maximum of their performance in both the first and second legs.
FC Porto: Often a power at home
Of course, the statistics can only be consulted to a limited extent due to the domestic league, which is not quite as strong in international comparison, but Porto are extremely difficult to beat in their own stadium. Ten wins and one draw in the domestic league speak a clear language, but in the Champions League there were two defeats here, including a clear 1:5 against Liverpool.
The Portuguese defence often impresses with good concentration. Porto have already scored 14 times in the course of the season, which is a very respectable record. The 2-2 draw against Sporting at the weekend was also the first setback in the league after 14 games in a row, all of which were won. Self-confidence plays a role, of course, and the hosts certainly don’t have to hide here.
However, their performances in the European Cup indicate that Porto can also be beaten by bigger opponents. Under these conditions, our prediction before the match Porto vs. Lazio Rome is that both teams will score goals in this match.
Predicted Porto line-up:
Marchesin – Joao Mario, Pepe, Mbemba, Zaidu – Uribe, Vitinha, Otavio, Pepe – Fabio Vieira, Taremi
Last matches played by Porto:
Liga Portugal
02/11 2022 – FC Porto 2 – 2 Sporting CP
02/06 2022 – Arouca 0 – 2 FC Porto
01/30 2022 – FC Porto 2 – 1 Maritimo
01/23 2022 – FC Porto 3 – 1 Famalicao
01/16 2022 – Belenenses SAD 1 – 4 FC Porto
Lazio Roma – Statistics & current form
Lazio Roma produced one of their better games at the weekend as the Italians from the capital beat Bologna 3-0 in commanding fashion, with Zaccagni standing out with a brace and Immobile also successful again with his 19th goal of the season. The top striker of his team will also show his skills in the offensive third against Porto.
The Italians have ambitions and played a solid group phase with only one defeat against Lok Moscow, Galatasaray and Marseille. In the league, consistency is a little lacking, which is one of the reasons why Lazio are only in sixth place and not in one of the places that entitle them to participate in the Champions League.
The lack of consistency can be seen in the statistics of the last few weeks. Three wins, two draws and two defeats in the last seven Serie A games for Lazio Roma. Maurizio Sarri has rebuilt the team in the summer, especially in terms of football. The focus is on a good build-up, on a good day the team can pose big problems for any opponent.
Lazio Roma must be defensively focused
The danger in this game is that Porto, on a good day, can easily be in a position to concede two or three goals to even bigger opponents. Something like that should be prevented urgently. However, the Italians’ record away from home could become a problem. Lazio Roma score 1.31 points away from home and 2.08 at home. And what’s more: the Laziali score ten goals less away from home.
Of course, this team can always score, especially with a player like Immobile in the starting eleven, even against a team like Porto. And the Portuguese have not always been solid this season. Therefore, before the match Porto vs. Lazio Rome, our tip is that both teams will score.
Predicted Lazio Roma line-up:
Strakosha – Marusic, Luiz Felipe, Patric, Hysaj – Cataldi, Milinkovic-Savic, Luis Alberto – Pedro, Zaccagni, Immobile
Last matches played by Lazio Roma:
Serie A
02/12 2022 – Lazio Roma 3 – 0 Bologna
Coppa Italia
02/09 2022 – AC Milan 4 – 0 Lazio Roma
Serie A
02/05 2022 – AC Florence 0 – 3 Lazio Roma
01/22 2022 – Lazio Roma 0 – 0 Atalanta Bergamo
Coppa Italia
01/18 2022 – Lazio Roma 1 – 0 Udinese
Porto – Lazio Roma Direct comparison / H2H balance
The two met for the first time so far in the 2002/03 season. Back then, Porto won the direct comparison after a 0-0 draw in Rome with a brilliant 4-1 home win over the Italians.
Porto – Lazio Roma Tip
These two teams are among the nominally strongest in the rest of the line-up of teams still in the Europa League. In addition, both want to get themselves in a good position directly in the first leg.
The hosts from Portugal should have more self-confidence, but Lazio Rom can handle such opponents well and also make a splash on good days. There is no clear favourite, so before the match Porto vs Lazio Roma our tip is that both teams will meet.
