Apart from winning the Coppa Italia last season, life for Lazio fans hasn't been much fun recently. They've not got a squad capable of challenging high up the table, and coach Vladimir Petković unsurprisingly hasn't been able to work miracles with his motley bunch. They've now not won in their last four Serie A matches and are looking to get back to winning ways on Monday evening, though they're playing supposed scudetto-chasers Napoli.
Lazio vs. Napoli: Preview and TV schedule
Both Lazio and Napoli have been off-form of late, and meet at the Olimpico on Monday evening.
Stuart Franklin
The partenopei started well under Rafael Benítez, and, initially, at least, looked like serious contenders. Then they lost to Juventus. And Parma. Suddenly cracks have appeared, and it's important they're stitched up as soon as possible -- especially with Juventus having seemingly clicked into domestic invincibility once again.
For this match, Lazio's biggest absentee is veteran striker Miroslav Klose, who at times carried his side last season. That's counterbalanced by the absence of the star of the Napoli team, Marek Hamšík, who sustained an injury after coming off the bench against Parma, and hasn't appeared since. Sorry partenopei fans, that means Goran Pandev will probably make the starting 11 against his former club.
Lazio injuries and suspensions
Out: Emiliano Alfaro, Miroslav Klose, Giuseppe Biava (injured). In doubt: None.
Napoli injuries and suspensions
Out: Juan Zúñiga, Marek Hamšík, Giandomenico Mesto (injured). In doubt: None.
Projected lineups
Lazio: Federico Marchetti; Ștefan Radu, Lorik Cana, Michaël Ciani, Abdoulay Konko; Hernanes, Cristian Ledesma, Ogenyi Onazi; Senad Lulić, Sergio Floccari, Antonio Candreva.
Napoli: Pepe Reina; Anthony Réveillère, Raúl Albiol, Federico Fernández, Christian Maggio; Gökhan Inler, Valon Behrami; Lorenzo Insigne, Goran Pandev, José Callejón; Gonzalo Higuaín.
Match Date/Time: Monday, 9 p.m. local, 3 p.m. ET
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy
TV: beIN Sport USA (U.S. - English), beIN Sport en Español (U.S. - Spanish), RAI Internazionale (U.S. and Canada - Italian), BT Sport 1 (U.K.), Sky Sport 1 HD Italia, Sky Supercalcio HD, Sky Calcio 1, Premium Calcio (Italy).
Online: beIN Sport Play (U.S. and Canada).
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