Last weekend produced arguably one of the more shocking results of this season's Serie A campaign. Given that Juventus had thrashed Parma 7-0 in the reverse fixture and powered past them in the Coppa Italia, not even the most ardent Crociati fan would have expected the bottom-placed hosts to be even able to salvage a point against the runaway league leaders.
Well, not did Roberto Donadoni's men avoid defeat, but they managed to surprise legions of calcio followers by actually defeating the Bianconeri, making them the first since since Genoa to do so in league play. Although Massimiliano Allegri's men bounced back by grinding out a 1-0 win over Monaco in their Champions League quarter-finals first leg, they will not want to sit back and relax too much upon returning to their domestic affairs.
The reigning Scudetto champions have largely been in control of the title race for the second half of the season as fellow aspirants Roma, once breathing down their necks, have suffered a mid-season implosion and continue to struggle. However, as the Giallorossi began to lose steam, another Rome-based side was quietly working their way up the table, and now others have really started to sit up and take notice of Lazio's impressive form this season.
Lazio has definitely been one of the surprise packages this season by their league standing so far
Not surprisingly, Allegri was fully of praise for his opponents, whilst, naturally advising his men to be very wary of the capital club's visit:
.@OfficialAllegri: "Loro stanno facendo un'annata straordinaria: nessuno poteva immaginarlo all'inizio" #JuveLazio
— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) April 17, 2015
"[Lazio] are doing extraordinarily well this year...no one could have imagined this at the beginning [of the campaign]."
.@OfficialAllegri: "Domani partita scudetto: da qui alla partita contro la Samp si decide la stagione" #JuveLazio
— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) April 17, 2015
"Tomorrow is a match that could decide the Scudetto...from here to the match against Sampdoria [could] decide the season."
The Aquile have indeed been soaring this season following a truly disappointing tenth-placed finish during the 2013/2014 Serie A term. And to the joy of Lazio fans, they have moved into second ahead of bitter cross-town rivals Roma as they seek to feature in the Champions League for the first time since the 2007/2008 season.
Stefano Pioli's men have won an impressive eight consecutive matches that has seen them fly up the table from sixth to second over the past few months. They will need two more to match the established record of ten on the bounce set by the Giallorossi last season, which could be made more difficult given they will take on the top ranked team in Italy at home.
Still, as calcio fans saw last weekend, Juventus are not infallible as they were dealt a shock by bottom-ranked Parma defeating them on the road. And during this amazing unbeaten streak, they have not only conceded twice, but currently boast a pretty decent defensive record overall.
As such, Pioli is showing no fear concerning his team's chances tomorrow at Juventus Stadium:
#Pioli: "Non firmo per il pareggio. Il termine prudente non corrisponde alla nostra mentalità". #JuventusLazio
— SS Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) April 17, 2015
"I am not [just going for] a draw [against Juventus]. Prudency [and caution] do not correspond with our mentality [and approach]."
With the exception of Juventus and Roma, Lazio's 28 goals conceded are the third strongest out of the top ten sides. And their 58 goals scored mean that they have displaced the Bianconeri - for now - as the most prolific attack in Italian football's top flight this season. Whilst Juventus appear to be relatively comfortable with a massive 12-point gap, a loss would reduce this to nine.
Nine points may seem like a lot, but a look back at history indicates that it provides a false sense of security. Many calcio fans (provided they weren't born at the turn of this century) will have some memory of the 1999/2000 Serie A season when Juventus, leading by nine points with a handful of games remaining saw Sven-Göran Eriksson's Lazio overcome and surpass them en route to winning the Scudetto by just one point.
Moreover, having played a tough game against Monaco and a crucial away leg coming up, the Biancocelesti, who were beaten 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico earlier this season, will be keen on trying to get their revenge as they hope to become the second team since Fiorentina to defeat la Vecchia Signora in Turin.
Juventus and Lazio will met yet again in a few months for the Coppa Italia final, but for now, the focus for fans and Serie A neutrals will be tonight's game between the no. 1 and no. 2 sides in Italy. The hosts have faced them in 20 league games sans defeat, with 14 wins and six draws. Here's how they compare overall:
Tomorrow marks our 142nd @SerieA_TIM meeting with the Biancocelesti: W73 D36 L32 is our record to date. #JuveLazio pic.twitter.com/gmlmxuQSWs
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) April 17, 2015
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