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Sassuolo (12-7-12) at Lazio (21-5-5)
Serie A Soccer: Saturday July 11, 2020 at 11:15 AM (Stadio Olimpico)
The Line: Lazio -170 / Draw +340 / Sassuolo +425 -- O/U: 3.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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Lazio play host to Sassuolo in Serie A soccer action from the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday morning.
Lazio comes into this match in 2nd place on 68 points with a record of 21 wins, 5 draws and 5 losses after back-to-back defeats following a 2-1 loss to Lecce last time out. In the loss to Lecce, Lazio dodged a bullet early when Lecce’s opener was disallowed after VAR determined a handball by Lecce in the leadup to the goal. Felipe Calcedo would score to give Lazio the lead in the 9th minute, but Lecce would find an equalizing goal on the half hour mark. Lazio would avoid another goal late in first half stoppage time when Lecce missed from the penalty spot, sending the shot well over the bar, about 15 rows into the stands. Lecce would find the go-ahead goal in the 47th minute, and despite Lazio having 54% possession in the second half with six shots on goal, an equalizing goal never came as Lecce held on for a massive three points. Ciro Immobile leads Serie A as well as Lazio in scoring with 29 goals along with 8 assists while Calcedo has 9 goals and Luis Alberto has a team-high 14 assists this season.
Sassuolo on the other side, come into this one in 8th place on 43 points with a record of 12 wins, 7 draws and 12 losses after a 3rd straight win in the form of a 2-1 win over Bologna last time out. In the win over Bologna, Domenico Berardi gave Sassuolo the lead in the 41st minute and Lukas Haraslin doubled Sassuolo’s advantage in the 57th minute. Bologna pulled a goal back in the first minute of second half stoppage time, but it wasn’t enough as Sassuolo held on for the win. Francesco Caputo leads Sassuolo in scoring with 15 goals along with 5 assists while Domenico Berardi has 12 goals with a team-high 6 assists and Jeremie Boga has 11 goals on the year. Filip Djuricic and Manuel Locatelli each have 5 assists as well for Sassuolo this season. Andrea Consigli is Sassuolo’s top goalkeeper, conceding 1.68 goals per 90 minutes with 4 clean sheets in 25 league appearances this season.
I’d like to think that Lazio will have some sense of urgency after back-to-back losses as well as the fact that they didn’t lose any ground on Juventus who lost their last game as well. However, I’m having a hard time getting over that loss to Lecce and Sassuolo is going to be full of confidence after three straight wins. Seven of Lazio’s last nine games have been decided by one goal, and Sassuolo’s last three games against Lazio has either been a draw or a one goal loss. I’ll take a shot with Sassuolo on the +1 handicap as I’m just not fond of Lazio in their current form.
Chris’s Pick Sassuolo +1 handicap -120
AUTHOR: Chris Ruffolo
