Analysis:

Not many would have predicted that Lazio would be trailing Chievo at this stage of the season after winning the Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup this season.

Lazio were heading for great things with the €20m signing of Mauro Zarate and, lest we forget, the free transfer of Julio Cruz from Inter. Then Davide Ballardini had one of the best attacks in Serie A to work with, as he could count on Goran Pandev and Tommaso Rocchi also.

But things did not go according to plan. as Claudio Lotito froze Pandev out of the team, a tactic that didn’t work as the Macedonia international won the right to have his contract rescinded in December. Cristian Ledesma is trying to do the same and now Lazio are trying to even qualify for Europe.

Things did looked well when they ended a 13 math winless streak on 13 December. In fact, the Biancocelesti have only lost two of their last five games heading into this match. But it must be said that a lot of their recent success can be put down to Sergio Floccari, the 28-year-old striker, who was signed from Genoa earlier this month.

Floccari scored four goals in his first four games for the club, which, incidentally, is the same amount as Zarate and Rocchi combined have scored all season. Unfortunately, he tweaked the hamstring in his right leg earlier this week and will now be out for a month at least, leaving Lazio without a deadly striker upfront.

Chievo will not be short of confidence heading into this match after ending a three match losing streak to beat Juventus for the first time in their history at the weekend and, unlike Lazio, they have repeatedly shown under Mimmo Di Carlo that things can go well if it is done properly.

The last time Chievo played Lazio at the Olimpico they won 3-0 but it must be noted that they have lost three of their last five games heading into this match. Those defeats came against Inter, Napoli and Roma, three of the top four, so they won’t be intimidated by Lazio who currently lie just three points above the relegation zone.

Keep an eye on Mauro Zarate of Lazio to get a goal here as his last goal was way back in late September last year so his price tag has been questioned. Expect him to react here.

Take Lazio for the win here.

Cheers and good luck,
Cruiser

The Statistics :

LAZIO LAST SIX HOME FORM
	DATE	RESULT		OPPOSITION
	2010-01-06	W	4-1	H v Livorno
	2009-12-13	W	1-0	H v Genoa
	2009-11-29	D	0-0	H v Bologna
	2009-11-08	L	1-2	H v Milan_AC
	2009-10-28	L	0-1	H v Cagliari
	2009-10-18	D	1-1	H v Sampdoria
CHIEVO LAST SIX AWAY FORM
	DATE	RESULT		OPPOSITION
	2010-01-09	L	1-0	A v Roma_AS
	2009-12-20	L	2-0	A v Napoli
	2009-12-06	W	0-2	A v Livorno
	2009-12-06	L	2-1	A v Palermo
	2009-11-22	L	2-1	A v Sampdoria
	2009-11-08	L	2-0	A v Parma

HEAD TO HEAD LAZIO v CHIEVO
DATE	HOME	SCORE	AWAY
2009-03-15	Lazio	0-3	Chievo
2007-04-18	Lazio	0-0	Chievo
2005-10-26	Lazio	2-2	Chievo
2004-10-17	Lazio	0-1	Chievo
2003-10-05	Lazio	1-0	Chievo
2002-09-15	Lazio	2-3	Chievo

The Pick :

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

HANDICAP BETTING :