Lazio must end their run of six consecutive Serie A draws at Stadio Olimpico in Sunday’s finale against Lecce to have any chance of playing in next season’s Champions League.
The capital club take on their relegation-threatened opponents, who enter the final top-flight clash this term after ending a 13-game winless streak last time out against Torino, leaving Lupi just outside the bottom three due to a superior head-to-head record over Empoli.
Match preview
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While Lazio have been the kings of late goals in recent weeks, results at the Olimpico have undermined the Biancocelesti’s ambition to compete for Champions League football next season.
Marco Baroni‘s men have secured one victory in front of their supporters in 2025 — a 5-1 thrashing of relegated Monza in February — but have drawn seven times in nine matches since the year’s turn, failing to keep a clean sheet in any of those nine.
As a result of these performances, Baroni’s team sixth with 65 points, one behind Eternal City rivals Roma and two behind Juventus in fourth, the latter occupying the final Champions League spot.
This situation means the Biancocelesti need maximum points and for the Old Lady and Claudio Ranieri’s team to falter on the last day, even if such an outcome could impact the Turin club, who have not won any of their last five away matches in Serie A ahead of Sunday’s visit to Venezia.
However, Roma’s form suggests that Baroni’s men face an uphill challenge to surpass both clubs and finish fourth.
Having equalised late in home draws with Parma and Juventus, the capital club levelled against Inter last time out, keeping themselves in the race for Champions League qualification.
Unless they break their run of six consecutive draws at the Olimpico and both Juventus and Roma slip up, Aquilotti may have to settle for Conference League football next season.
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Facing Lecce this weekend poses a tricky test, given Salentini’s desperation to avoid relegation and extend their three-year stay in the division.
Marco Giampaolo‘s men come into Sunday’s fixture off the back of a 1-0 victory over Torino in Apulia, ending a four-month wait for maximum points in the top flight.
Defeating the Turin outfit also marked Lupi’s first home victory since mid-December, and they now aim to record consecutive Serie A wins for the first time since beating Empoli (1-0) and Sassuolo (3-0) in April 2024.
For this to happen, the team with the fourth-worst away record and the second-highest number of defeats (11) in 18 matches on their travels must show a different side to avoid slipping into the bottom three.
With Giampaolo’s men only ahead of Empoli due to a superior head-to-head record, the Wolves must match the Tuscan outfit’s result and hope Venezia do not surprise Juventus to suffer final-day relegation.
Team News
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Even though Lazio have no suspended players, the sixth-placed club will likely be without the injured Manuel Lazzari and Patric for their season finale.
While Taty Castellanos and Pedro are the capital club’s joint leading goalscorers with 10, four of the Spaniard’s goals have come in his brace that helped the Biancocelesti recover from 2-0 down against Parma, plus another pair of strikes in the previous match against Inter.
Although Ante Rebic and Balthazar Pierret are doubtful, Tete Morente is suspended for Lupi, while Filip Marchwinski and Gaby Jean are out with knee injuries.
While Nikola Krstovic has scored once in seven top-flight games, the 11-goal forward has contributed both a goal and an assist in consecutive matches, demonstrating a return to form as the campaign reaches its conclusion.
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Mandas, Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen, Vecino, Zaccagni; Castellanos
Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Guilbert, Gasper, Baschirotto, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ramadani, Helgason; Pierotti, Krstovic, N’Dri
We say: Lazio 2-1 Lecce
Having failed to keep a home clean sheet since beating Bologna in November 2024, the Biancocelesti’s 11-match sequence without a successful defensive performance in Rome looks set to continue.
However, Baroni’s men are expected to end the season with a win at the Olimpico, even though the home fans may not leave the ground celebrating Champions League qualification.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
