Zulte-Waregem host Italian Serie A side Lazio at in Belgium next week, with the home side having little more than pride to pay for in their Europa League clash. With their opponents having already secured their position as Group K winners thanks to four wins from five matches, the Italian side are the firm favourites for another victory.
Europa League – Regenboogstadion, Waregem – Thursday 7th December – 20:05 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 12/5 at Ladbrokes |
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Zulte
LazioMatch Preview
Belgium side Zulte-Waregem take on Lazio at the Regenboogstadion next week, with the hosts hoping to cause one of the biggest upsets in the Europa League this season. However, with the visitors having already secured their place in the knockout phase of the competition, manager Simone Inzaghi could well choose to rest some of this star names, offering Zulte hope of winning for just a second time in Europe this season. For those still unsure of who to back, be sure to check out our top betting tip below. However, let’s first take a closer at the two teams, starting with the home side.
Zulte-Waregem Team News & Form
The home side come into this match off the back of a narrow defeat against rivals Club Brugge in the Belgium top-flight over the weekend, a result which leaves them 10th in the standings. Meanwhile, a 3-1 defeat against Nice last week in France means that they now have no hope of qualifying for the latter stages of the competition, with their poor defensive record hindering their progress. Manager Francky Dury will be looking for a positive result against Lazio however, with the likes of Julien de Sar and attacking midfielder Onur Kaya among their most talented players.
Lazio Team News & Form
Lazio were held to a 1-1 draw against Fiorentina over the weekend in Italy, however they remain in a strong position in the Serie A standings after a positive start to the campaign. Inzaghi’s men have been equally as impressive in Europe, winning four and drawing one of their Group K matches, scoring 10 goals in the process. The Italians are likely to once again name an mix of youth and fringe players when they travel to Belgium, however the likes of former Manchester United man Nani, Felipe Caicedo and Wallace could still feature in a strong looking line-up. Lazio drew with Dutch side Vitesse last time around in the competition.
Head to Head
Lazio’s 2-0 win over Zulte-Waregem in Italy earlier on in the season was the first ever competitive meeting between the two clubs, meaning that few conclusions can be made surrounding their head-to-head record.
Betting Odds and Predictions
Despite being the away team in Belgium next week, their performances so far in Europe this season means that it is Lazio who are the favourites for victory with the majority of bookmakers. Those looking to back the Italian side for the win for can take advantage of odds of 11/10 from Ladbrokes, while the home side are priced at 11/4 from Skybet.
Top Betting Tip
However, our top betting tip for the match is to bet on Lazio to keep a clean sheet in Belgium, which is available at a price of 5/2 with Ladbrokes ahead of kick-off.