Five Key Battle in Lazio vs Juventus: Gila & Vlahovic to Lock Horns | OneFootball

The Italian capital will witness one of the most-awaited clashes of the Serie A weekend, as Lazio and Juventus will battle it out at the Stadio Olimpico. This contest will feature a compelling touchline duel between Maurizio Sarri and the man who once replaced him at Formello, Igor Tudor.

Both managers will be vying against their former employers, adding an interesting layer to an already thrilling meeting. Nevertheless, the outcome will eventually be decided by the 22 players on the pitch, so let’s dig deeper into five battles we could witness on Sunday, at least based on the expected starting lineups.

Mario Gila vs Dusan Vlahovic

After putting on a titanic display at the back that earned Lazio a point in Bergamo, Mario Gila will be looking to consolidate his status as one of the best central defenders in Serie A by halting the charge of the league’s highest-paid player, while the latter will be keen to put an end to his goal drought. This should be an old-fashioned physical duel between a powerful centre-forward and a robust defender.

Toma Basic vs Teun Koopmeiners

This midfield battle will feature an interesting duel between a player who revived his playing career after years of insignificance, and one who’s been on a downward spiral for 14 months or so. As strange as this may sound, Toma Basic should enter the match feeling confident about his chances of prevailing over the €60 million signing.

Gustav Isaksen vs Andrea Cambiaso

This will be a crucial duel, not just for this contest, but also for Sarri’s long-term hierarchy. While Gustav Isaksen was out due to mononucleosis, Matteo Cancellieri established himself as Lazio’s first choice on the right wing. Therefore, the Dane must make the most out of his teammate’s absence, beginning with a statement against one of the country’s finest full-backs in Andrea Cambiaso.

Mattia Zaccagni vs Pierre Kalulu

For better or worse, Pierre Kalulu was a protagonist against Lazio on both occasions last season. In October, he forced Alessio Romagnoli to commit a professional foul, which earned the latter his marching orders. However, he was the one who got sent off in the reverse fixture after elbowing Taty Castellanos in the face.

The Frenchman has been increasingly involved in Juve’s attacking phase as of late due to his more advanced role, but this time, he wouldn’t want to leave Mattia Zaccagni with acres of space while surging forward.

Boulaye Dia vs Federico Gatti

With Castellanos unavailable, Boulaye Dia has been struggling to make an impact as a lone striker, and it certainly won’t be easy against Federico Gatti. Since a physical duel would be a lost cause for the Senegalese, he must try to outsmart his opponent by timing his runs to the box and exploiting any gaps in the black-and-white defences.