Lazio vs FC Porto Predictions

• Porto have won 10 and drawn two of their 12 away games in their domestic league, netting 29 goals and conceding eight.
• Porto earned a deserved 2-1 win in the first leg, and Lazio now have to win to stand any chance of progressing.
• The visitors have also won 10 of their last 11 matches.
• Lazio, meanwhile, have only won one of their last four.

Lazio face uphill task at Stadio Olimpico

After suffering a 2-1 defeat to Porto in the first leg of their Europa League tie, Maurizio Sarri’s hopes of a successful European run look to be hanging by a thread. After losing 4-0 to Milan in the Coppa Italia and drawing at Udinese last time out, Lazio are on a run of one win in four, while opponents Porto have won 10 of their last 11 games.

Despite managing the majority of the possession, Lazio managed just two shots on target in Porto, and will need to come out swinging in the Italian capital. Lazio do have a good home record in Serie A, picking up 25 points from 12 games on their own turf, but they can be inconsistent, and have shipped 16 goals at home in Serie A, 40 overall.

Porto, meanwhile, are in fantastic form, grinding out result after result as they try to regain the Portuguese title. Sergio Conceicao’s team have won 20 of their 23 league games, drawing the other three, and have also won 10 of their 12 away matches. Meanwhile, a record of just 16 goals conceded in 23 league games, as well as a return of four points from two Champions League clashes with AC Milan, suggests they could earn another hard-fought result here.

Dragons a great bet to progress

Lazio have been erratic all season; with their 26 Serie A matches containing 93 goals, they can be devastating in attack, but porous at the other end. With Porto able to protect a 2-1 lead and Lazio’s away goal now counting for nought under UEFA’s new knockout-stage rules, the Portuguese league leaders should be able to protect their advantage, and pick their hosts off.

With that said, Lazio’s home record is good enough to suggest that it will be close, so we’re more confident in backing Porto on the double chance market, while a tense 2-1 away win could be a decent correct score play.