Lazio vs Mantova preview, how to watch, probable line-ups and prediction | OneFootball

Lazio launch their season on Sunday 16 August, hosting Mantova in the Coppa Italia opener at the Stadio Olimpico, kick-off 21:15 local time.

As reported by The Laziali, a verified list of international TV listings is available. The top eight Serie A sides enter at the Round of 16, so ninth-placed Lazio start earlier and must navigate two extra rounds.

After Maurizio Sarri’s expected exit, Gennaro Gattuso has taken charge and won all six friendlies. Those results came largely against lower-division teams, with only newly promoted Frosinone of note.

Mantova finished 11th in Serie B last season and hope to push towards the play-offs. Their last two friendlies ended in a 3-1 win over Legnano Salus and a 0-1 defeat to Serie C side Carpi.

Lazio are seven-time Coppa Italia winners and last season’s runners-up, while Mantova’s best is a 1961/62 semi-final. The last competitive meeting was a 1-1 Serie B draw in March 1969.

Probable line-ups: Lazio 4-3-3, Mandas, Marusic, Doekhi, Provstgaard, Pedraza, Dele-Bashiru, Rovella, Taylor, Noslin, Dia, Zaccagni. Mantova 3-4-2-1, Bardi, Meroni, Cella, Castellini, Cajazzo, Trimboli, Ignacchitti, Benaissa, Ilie, Ruocco, Mancuso.

With an anti-Lotito fan protest, Mantova might bring the noisier backing and could even seize an early lead. Gattuso should still have enough quality to steady Lazio and deliver a convincing progression on debut, and he would not want a misstep with the fanbase already boiling.

Source: The Laziali

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”