AFTER three rounds of action, Lazio led the way at the top of the Europa League table with a 100% record. Will they be able to keep their streak going as they host Porto on Thursday, November 7th at the Stadio Olimpico?
How the bookies view it: Biancocelesti favourites
Lazio are odds-against home favourites at a quote of 5/4 for this Europa League match. They have been in good form recently but will run into a Porto side that have hit a hot streak of form as well. The Portuguese outfit are reasonable 2/1 underdogs for their trip to the Olimpico.
Recent head-to-head: Lazio seek first Porto victory
There have been four previous meetings between Lazio and Porto and the Italians are still looking for their first win, having drawn two and lost two. On both occasions that they met in Rome, the fixtures ended in draws, with the most recent a 2-2 affair back in February 2022. Three of the four previous meetings have gone over 2.5 goals.
Players to watch: Castellanos to lead the way
Lazio’s Valentin Castellanos has scored seven goals in eleven appearances for the club this season and looks their most likely route to goal at the moment. He scored a brace in Lazio's 4-1 home win over Nice earlier in the campaign.
Porto will rely heavily on Same Omorodion who has had a fantastic season, with eleven goals in ten appearances for the Portuguese club. He has been a revelation and has scored in all three Europa League matches played this season too.
Predicted Lineups
Lazio have Nicolo Rovella and Mattia Zaccagni sidelined plus Nuno Tavares was sent off on the weekend, so will be serving a ban. FC Porto aren’t in too bad of a shape but will miss Zaidu Sanusi and Ivan Marcano.
Lazio: Provedel, Patric, Pellegrini, Gila, Marusic, Vecino, Guendouzi, Pedro, Noslin, Isaksen, Castellanos
Porto: Costa, Djalo, Perrez, Fernandes, Moure, Vieira, Pepe, Gonzalez, Namaso, Varela, Omorodion
Anything else catch the eye?
Lazio’s workload doesn’t do them any favours in this one, having played a league match late on Monday evening. That was a 2-1 success over Cagliari, Lazio's fourth win in a row in all competitions. So they may be tempted to rotate the squad a little bit. But to strengthen their position at the halfway stage in the Europa League, their main attacking man Castellanos will likely start.
Lazio have now won eight of their last nine matches in all competitions and have been scoring for fun. The Biancocelesti have netted at least three goals in five of their last nine fixtures in all competitions. Given that they average three goals per game in the Europa League this season, they look like being tough to knock over on home turf.
Porto are W1 D2 L1 in the Europa League, suffering a shock loss to Bodo Glimt before earning a 3-3 draw against Man Utd and then beating Hoffenheim. So it’s been a mixed bag for them. While they have won their last five on the spin in all competitions, this is their toughest opponent for a while.
This UEFA Europa League match between Lazio and Porto will be played on Nov 7, 2024 and kick off at 20:00. Check below for our tipsters best Lazio vs Porto prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
