Lazio vs Lokomotiv: A rare opportunity for the Russian club to improve their position

Lazio broke their unbeaten streak in the Rome derby against Jose Mourinho’s Roma. Will Maurizio Sarri’s side be strong enough to challenge for the Europa League title?

Lazio have gone into Sunday’s derby against Roma without a win in four games. If away defeats to AC Milan 0-2 and Galatasaray in the Europa League 0-1 can be explained by the team’s weak squad, then the 2-2 home draws against Cagliari and 1-1 away draws against Torino were a real disappointment.

Maurizio Sarri’s side had no margin for error. The Biancocelesti coped very well with this challenging task. Already on 19 minutes, thanks to goals from Milinkovic-Savic and Pedro, they took a 2-0 lead and, having conceded a goal in the dying stages of the first half, restored the status quo in the second. Felipe Anderson netted Roma’s third goal. The Giallorossi managed to score only once, and Lazio clinched a 3-2 win. It is a tremendous emotional charge ahead of the meeting with Lokomotiv.

Marko Nikolic’s team hasn’t been able to score in two straight games. And the opponents in those games were not the strongest, Ural and Khimki. Two zero draws, of course, did not have the best effect on Loko’s standing in the Russian league. The Moscow side is in third place, six points behind the leader, Zenit St Petersburg. But further on, given the challenging schedule, it will only be more difficult.

Lokomotiv kicked off the group stage of the Europa League with a home game against Marseille. 1-1 is a decent result, considering that Loko finished the game in the minority and scored the return goal with ten men.

Lazio had a difficult match against Roma. The Biancocelesti did a lot to win, no doubt giving their all. For the Europa League match against Lokomotiv, Maurizio Sarri’s team may lack physical strength and emotion. That means Marko Nikolic’s side has a good chance of picking up points. Lazio, frankly, are not the strongest team, and, given the deep crisis of Russian football, such opportunities should be taken advantage of. Nikolic is a great mentor who can surprise Sarri.

• Asian handicap 2 (+1.25) for 1.54;
• Handicap 2 (+1) for 2.20;
• Lokomotiv will not lose for around 2.41.