Walter Mazzarri makes his debut on the Cagliari bench after Leonardo Semplici’s dismissal and Maurizio Sarri needs to get Lazio back on track after defeats in Italy and Europe.
The Sardinians have already axed coach Semplici after one point from three games, as the 3-2 home loss to Genoa after taking a 2-0 lead proved the final straw. Mazzarri was hired and won’t have much time to enact changes, especially with Kevin Strootman and Leonardo Pavoletti fighting for fitness. Joao Pedro and Keita Balde Diao therefore seem certain to start upfront.
Lazio had started the season well under Sarri, but defeats to Milan and Galatasaray damaged confidence, especially as the Europa League result was decided by a Thomas Strakosha howler. Fatigue is also an issue, as he didn’t rotate the squad very much in Istanbul on Thursday evening, resting only Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Pedro.
Form Guide: Lazio (L W W) Cagliari (L L D)
Stat fact: Cagliari have lost each of their last 10 Serie A visits to Lazio and picked up just two draws from their last 14 league meetings with the Biancocelesti, home and away.
Probable line-ups
Lazio (4-3-3): Reina; Marusic, Luiz Felipe, Acerbi, Hysaj; Milinkovic-Savic, Leiva, Luis Alberto; Pedro, Immobile, Felipe Anderson
Suspended: None
Injured: Adekanye
On a yellow card: None
Cagliari (3-5-2): Cragno; Caceres, Ceppitelli, Carboni; Zappa, Nandez, Marin, Deiola, Dalbert; Joao Pedro, Keita
Suspended: None
Injured: Rog, Godin, Farago, Ladinetti, Ceter, Walukiewicz