Lazio v Roma predictions: free betting tips and where to watch

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Lazio v Roma in Serie A on Friday.

Where to watch

Premier Sports 1, 7.45pm Friday

Best bet

Roma
1pt 11-8 Betway, Hills

Team news

Lazio
Joaquin Correa (calf) may return but Senad Lulic (ankle), Silvio Proto (arm), Mohamed Fares (calf) and Thomas Strakosha (hamstring) are ruled out.

Roma
Nicolo Zaniolo (knee), Antonio Mirante, Pedro, Davide Santon and Javier Pastore (hip) are sidelined.

Match preview

Highflying Roma have lost just two of their last 14 Serie A Rome derbies and their strong recent record in this fixture can continue with a victory away to Lazio on Friday.

While the match is nominally a home fixture for Lazio, is it hard to see any material advantage for the Biancocelesti given the absence of supporters and the venue itself which is equally familiar to both clubs.

There has been an adjustment from the markets with Roma priced up as favourites but there may still be some value in siding with the away side.

Some clubs have missed their home fans more than others and the lack of atmosphere seems to be having a major impact on Lazio, who are no longer a team to be feared at the Stadio Olimpico.

No more than 1,000 fans have witnessed Lazio's home matches this season and the club's last five home league fixtures have taken place without any paying spectators.

The impact on league results has been stark with Lazio taking 11 points from eight Serie A home games at an average of 1.37 points per game.

Last season, the majority of which was played out in front of large crowds, they were much stronger in home league games (winning 14, drawing three and losing two) and averaged 2.37 points per home match.

Simone Inzaghi's side have done better on the road and last Sunday's 2-0 success at Parma, their fifth away league win of the season, lifted them to eighth.

However, they are five points outside of the top four and six adrift of third-placed Roma, who look much-improved after making some high-profile moves in the transfer market.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan's permanent switch from Arsenal has been a roaring success with the Armenian contributing eight league goals and eight assists (the most in the division).

A lesser impact has been seen from Spanish attacker Pedro, who has notched three goals in 13 league appearances since his arrival from Chelsea, but Roma look stronger overall and are on course to improve on last season's fifth place.

Veteran striker Edin Dzeko and creative midfielder Jordan Veretout have impressed, each scoring seven league goals, and the prospect of a title challenge looks realistic with Paulo Fonseca's side only six points behind leaders Milan.

Fonseca's deep squad looks equipped to cope with the busy schedule and the Portuguese gaffer can come up with a winning formula this weekend.

Key stat

Roma have lost just two of their last 14 league meetings with Lazio.

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