Juventus host Lazio in Serie A on Sunday night, October 18, with kick-off at 7:45pm. Our full preview, team news, predicted lineups and score prediction are below.
Match Preview
Juventus wrap up another busy Serie A Sunday by hosting in-form Lazio, who are unbeaten in the league and sit five points clear of the Bianconeri.
The Europa League has been kind to Juve. They came from behind to win 2-1 at Celta Vigo in midweek, a rare success on Spanish soil, and with six points from two games they are well on their way to the knockout rounds. Turning that into domestic results has been harder. They have won only one of their last four league games, and a 1-1 draw at Cagliari left them sixth, outside the current top four. Luciano Spalletti was sent off after a touchline confrontation with Fabio Pisacane in Sardinia, so the pressure is on him.
Back at home, Juve will try to halt Lazio’s surge, though they have taken only two points from the last three league meetings between the sides.
A lot has changed for Lazio since they were knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Mantova in their opening game. They joined leaders Inter Milan on 16 points last week by beating ten-man Monza 3-1, with goals from Nuno Tavares, Gustav Isaksen and Andrea Pinamonti. They did it despite a fan boycott that left the Stadio Olimpico nearly empty.
Gennaro Gattuso, who followed Spalletti as Italy coach, has five wins and a draw from six league games, and his team have dropped no points on the road. They have conceded only once away, with two clean sheets. A win in Turin would make him the first Lazio boss to take six wins from his first seven Serie A games, though that’s far easier said than done.
Team News
Spalletti will serve a touchline ban for the Cagliari incident and is expected to rotate an injury-hit squad during a hectic run of fixtures. Captain Manuel Locatelli is out along with Kenan Yildiz, Khephren Thuram, Jeff Ekhator and reserve goalkeeper Kamil Grabara, while Jeremie Boga remains a doubt.
Randal Kolo Muani has been involved in nine goals in his last nine European games, despite his domestic struggles. He scored against Celta after scoring and hitting the bar against Cagliari, so he may win back his place from Nick Woltemade, who also scored in Vigo.
Pinamonti and Tijjani Noslin are competing to lead Lazio’s attack. Noslin’s first Serie A goal came against Juventus in February 2024, and he has four goal involvements in his last three games. Albert Gudmundsson dislocated a shoulder on Iceland duty and will miss the next international break too, and winger Matteo Cancellieri is also out. Danilo Cataldi is fit again. Adam Marusic and ex-Juve midfielder Nicolo Rovella are close to returning but may not travel on Sunday.
Probable Starting XI’s
Juventus possible XI (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Kalulu, Bremer, Lucumi, Celik; Luiz, Sarr; Zhegrova, McKennie, Gonzalez; Kolo Muani
Lazio possible XI (4-3-3): Mandas; Floriani Mussolini, Doekhi, Provstgaard, Tavares; Frattesi, Belahyane, Taylor; Isaksen, Noslin, Zaccagni
Prediction
Lazio have been sharper than most people expected under Gattuso, and they can frustrate Spalletti by grinding out a draw. The former Italy coaches should make for an intriguing tactical battle, but Juve’s wayward finishing is starting to improve and may get them over the line
Prediction: Juventus 2-1 Lazio
