The Stadio Olimpico will play host to the first match of gameweek 15 in Serie A on Friday night between two teams moving in opposite directions in the standings. Lazio have lost four of their last five matches, whereas Juventus are slowly getting their act together after a horrendous start to the campaign and have won their last four league games.
Massimiliano Allegri’s men are now seven points off league leaders with three matches to play before the winter break starts and they will hope to kick start the new year within touching distance of Napoli and the leading pack.
While Lazio have slide right down the table, their home form is nothing to be scoffed at and will present Juventus with real problems. In fact, only Napoli (19) have collected more points Lazio (16) so far this season. Neither team has hit full stride at any stage of the season thus far, but who dominates the combined XI from those to have made at least seven appearances?
Unsurprisingly, given the contrasting form of both sides, Juventus (7) boast more players in the combined XI than Lazio (4). Suspension for Paul Pogba (7.31 WhoScored rating) for the fixture saw him concede his place in the team to Marco Parolo (7.00).
Juan Cuadrado struggled to make any sort of impact during his six months at Chelsea, but has flourished upon his return to Serie A and is the highest rated player among both squads (7.39). Only two players are being fouled more per game than the Colombia international (3.5), while only Diego Perotti (23.4mins) is averaging fewer mins per dribble than Cuadrado (23.6mins) from those to have featured in at least 10 league games this season.
In his path will be Lazio’s midfield enforcer, Lucas Biglia. The Argentine missed the start of the season and his return to action brought about an upturn in Lazio’s form. In fact, only four players are averaging more tackles per game in Serie A this season than the 29-year-old (3.4)
For more stats on Lazio vs Juventus, click here to visit the detailed WhoScored match centre
