FC Porto vs Lazio Predictions

• Porto are unbeaten after 22 games of their domestic league campaign, winning 19 of their matches.
• Porto had registered eight consecutive wins before rescuing a 2-2 draw against title rivals Sporting last time out.
• Lazio have lost six of their 13 Serie A away games under Maurizio Sarri; 17 of their 42 league points have come on the road.

Are Porto and Lazio genuine Europa contenders?

With Serie A looking increasingly competitive, winning the Europa League could be the best route back into the Champions League for Lazio, who sit sixth in the Italian top flight after a promising run of three wins in four league outings. However, the Eagles will face a huge test when they travel to Porto in the competition’s round-of-32, with Liverpool and Atletico Madrid the only teams to beat Sergio Conceicao’s men all season.

Lazio have been in decent league form, but still tend to struggle on the road and against top opposition. Maurizio Sarri’s men have lost six of their 13 away league games, the joint-worst tally amongst Italy’s current top nine. Meanwhile, since a remarkable win over Inter back in October, the capital club have played six matches against the teams above them in Serie A, picking up just two points from those high-profile clashes.

Those records do not exactly bode well for Thursday’s trip to Portugal, where Conceicao’s ruthless league leaders lie in wait. Porto have won 19 and drawn three of their 22 league games this season, winning 10 of their 11 home matches. Porto boast Portugal’s best defensive record after conceding just 16 goals, and were extremely unfortunate to be drawn into the Champions’ League’s toughest group before Christmas, where they finished third after picking up four points against an AC Milan team which hammered Lazio 4-0 in the Coppa Italia just last week.

Hosts can take first-leg advantage

Considering Lazio’s penchant for failing to turn up on the big occasion and their less-than-fantastic away record, they could struggle against a Porto team who are generously priced in the Europa League outright betting.

Despite the home team’s incredible form, Porto have seen both teams net in six of their last seven outings, so a 2-1 home win could represent decent value on the correct score market, keeping the tie alive ahead of the second leg in Rome.