With just three rounds remaining in the Serie A season, the battle for UEFA Champions League (UCL) qualification is reaching boiling point. Lazio and Juventus enter this pivotal round as two of four teams between fourth and seventh in the standings, separated by a single point, and both with eyes firmly set on a top-four finish.
Lazio come into the clash with momentum on their side, having extended their unbeaten league run to six matches (W3, D3) with a narrow 1-0 win over Empoli last Sunday. However, a curious trend has emerged—while they’ve won all three away games during this run, they’ve drawn all three at home. A return to the Stadio Olimpico may not be the advantage it appears, given the Biancocelesti have won just one of their last ten home league fixtures (D7, L2). With their last five home games ending in draws, Lazio could equal a club record of six consecutive home league stalemates—last seen in 1991. Yet, they’ll take comfort in a dominant record at home against Juventus in recent meetings, winning the last three Serie A head-to-heads at the Olimpico.
Juventus, meanwhile, find themselves clinging to fourth place, level on 63 points with both Lazio and Roma, but only ahead on goal difference. A 1-1 draw against Bologna last round extended their inconsistent stretch—just two wins in their last five games (D2, L1)—and left their UCL qualification hopes on shaky ground. Nonetheless, with fixtures against struggling Udinese and Venezia to follow, this showdown in the capital looms large as their biggest remaining hurdle.
Their away form against top-half opposition will be a concern, with Juventus winless in their last seven visits to top-nine Serie A sides (D5, L2). However, they will take confidence from having beaten Lazio 1-0 in the reverse fixture, and could now complete their first league double over the Roman side since the 2018/19 season.
Players to Watch:
Lazio’s Boulaye Dia has a knack for early goals, including one in the opening minute against Empoli—four of his 12 competitive strikes for the club have come in the first five minutes. Juventus’ Khéphren Thuram is another fast starter, having opened the scoring in each of his three league games in which he has found the net this season, including a goal inside nine minutes last round.
Hot Stat:
Lazio remain the only Serie A team this season to have seen every home league match produce at least two goals—a testament to their unpredictability and entertainment value at the Stadio Olimpico.
