Lazio – Verona. Mark O’Haire’s prediction

Lazio’s European qualification hopes are looking remote after a three-game winless sequence left the Biancocelesti 11 points adrift of city rivals Roma in fifth-place.

Stefano Pioli’s side failed to even score in those three fixtures – 0-0-v Genoa, 0-2 v Napoli and 0-0 v Udinese – with poor finishing the common and constant theme for the Eagles in 2015/16.

In seven Serie A outings this calendar year, Lazio have landed just 19 shots-on-target but 13 of those came in games against Fiorentina (six) and Chievo (seven). That means, across five fixtures, Thursday’s hosts have managed a paltry six on-target efforts despite firing in 60 shots.

Basement boys Verona make the journey south on the back of a five-match unbeaten streak (W1-D4-L0) – their best run of results this term – and although they let a 3-1 lead slip at Inter on Sunday (drawing 3-3), have shown signs of life.

Head coach Luigi Delneri’s protestations against his Mastini side’s futility are carrying more weight and it’s worth noting, the visitors have suffered just two defeats in nine now (W1-D6-L2), shipping fewer than two goals in eight of their previous 10.

Indeed, the Gialloblu may be winless on the road (W0-D6-L5) and without a triumph at Lazio since their title-winning year of 1985 but they’re proving a tough nut to crack having avoided defeat in Milan, Roma and Torino since December.

I reckon we could be in for an attritional battle, at least in the first 45 minutes. Lazio have netted 22 of their 29 goals after the interval, firing first-half blanks in nine of their 12 Olimpico outings. Incredibly, Hellas have failed to strike before the half-time oranges on their travels, with seven of their 11 away matches going into the break 0-0.

The trends are also suggesting a low-scoring encounter – between the two teams’ respective home and away games, Under 2.5 Goals has been a winner on 16/23 (70%) occasions this season – that percentage mark would equate to a 1.44 shot in betting odds. So the 2.05 chalked up on Under 2.5 Goals looks like great value and best betting option on offer.