The title in Italy’s Serie A has once again been returned to Turin and Juventus, and with that conclusion attention is now turning to the fight for a place in the top four and a place in the UEFA Champions League next year. And this coming Sunday afternoon (May 5th) comes arguably the tie of the round, with Lazio welcoming high flying Atalanta to the Olympic Stadium in Rome.
- Lazio has scored in its last 12 home matches in Serie A.
- Atalanta is unbeaten in its last nine league encounters.
- Lazio has won 11 of the last 23 meetings between these two teams.
Lazio Must Take All Three Points to Stay in Top Four Contention
It has been a largely positive season for Lazio on the domestic front, but two defeats in the last four matches has seen the side drop down to eighth, now four points off a place in the top four with just four matches left to play. Home form could be crucial over the season run-in, and the opportunity to take points off one of their rivals simply cannot be passed up.
That will be easier said than done however when the rival in question is an Atalanta side unbeaten in its last nine league contests, its last 11 matches across all competitions and who currently sit fourth. With the advantage, fourth spot is now Atalanta’s to lose.
And while the betting is tight in this mouth watering contest, it is Lazio who comes into it as the slight favorites to claim what could well be three hugely valuable points. You can back the home side to win at +115, while Atalanta are out at +210 to do the same – a draw would appear to be the least likely outcome and is priced accordingly at +260.
Atalanta to Edge Close Encounter
Lazio may well have advantage but there is no denying that Atalanta come into this match in much better form, while they have scored as many goals this term as champions Juventus – no one has netted more times than Atalanta, and we are expecting them to snatch a key victory here.
It is of course never easy trying to predict the exact score line in any football match, but a narrow, 2-1 win for the away side is priced competitively at +1000 and looks to be worth backing when you consider the recent form of both these teams.
Such a result would then also allow you to back over 2.5 goals in the game, which is priced short at just -150, as well as both teams to score, which is at even lower odds of -175. Therefore, if you are looking to give any potential winnings from this key clash a boost then you may wish to use combo betting, which allows you to select multiple outcomes at higher odds.
For example, a combo bet of an Atalanta win, coupled with both teams to score, is at the much higher price of +400, while an away win and over 2.5 goals in the game is at +333. You may also bet on the total number of goals in the game, with UNDER two out at +333, two or three dropping down to +105 and OVER three goals in the match rising slightly to +162.
Could We See a Fast Start?
With both sides desperate for the three points we believe that we could well see an explosive start in Rome on Sunday, with both sides looking to grab an early goal to seize control of the contest. It may therefore be an idea to back over 0.5 goals in the first 10 minutes at +300, while Lazio are at +750 to be ahead by the end of that time period – Atalanta are only slightly higher, at +850, to achieve the same feat.
In terms of goal scorers, Duvan Zapata could be crucial to Atalant’s hopes of a win here. The Colombian striker is at +125 to score at any time and at +450 to net either the first or the last goal of the game.
Related News
