Form
Lazio began the Serie A campaign with consecutive defeats (a 2-1 loss at home to Napoli followed by a 2-0 defeat at Juventus) but bounced back with four straight victories. That winning streak came to an end this past weekend with a 3-1 defeat away to city rivals Roma, but the Biancocelesti still sit sixth in the standings. Lazio also beat Apollon Limassol 2-1 at home in their first UEFA Europa League outing.
The coach
In spite of the comparisons to elder brother Filippo – the legendary former AC Milan striker – Simone Inzaghi is well on the way to making his own name as a coach. Following six successful years coaching Lazio's youth teams, the 42-year-old took charge of the Rome club in April 2016 initially on an interim basis after the departure of Stefano Pioli. Following Marcelo Bielsa's short-lived tenure that summer, Inzaghi retook the reins in July 2016 and led Lazio to a first trophy in four years in August 2017, beating Juventus to lift the Italian Super Cup.
Tactics board
Just as in a game of chess, whoever controls the midfield against Lazio controls the game. Inzaghi usually employs a 3-5-1-1 system with the aim of generating a numerical advantage in the centre of the park. With a cultured style, the ball is then shifted forward to Ciro Immobile, who turns chances into goals more often than not.
One to watch: Ciro Immobile
After scoring 22 goals for Torino and ending the 2013/14 season top of the Italian scoring charts, Immobile joined Borussia Dortmund as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski. The Italy international never found his feet in Germany, however, and arrived at Lazio permanently in 2016 after spells at Sevilla and Torino. A centre-forward in the classic mould, the 28-year-old netted 23 Serie A goals in his first season in Rome and then 29 last term to finish as top scorer for a second time. Immobile also plundered eight goals on Lazio's run to the 2017/18 Europa League quarter-finals, while five goals already this season augur well for another prolific campaign.
