Torino vs Lazio preview - Lazio out to continue winning run

Posted Sunday, March 15, 2015 by PA

Lazio midfielder Lucas Biglia believes his in-form side are getting just reward for their hard work but has urged his team-mates to keep their feet firmly on the ground ahead of Monday's game at Torino.

The Biancoceleste climbed to third in Serie A thanks to a 4-0 triumph b over Fiorentina last time out.

That was their fourth successive victory and if they can overcome Torino as well it would match their best run of results in Serie A since winning eight on the trot at the start of 2007.

"We want to finish as high as possible in the standings," Biglia told the Italian press. "We are playing very well and are being rewarded for our hard work.

"We just need to maintain our focus in order to extend this great run for as long as possible."

Lazio hold the last Champions League qualifying spot with 12 games remaining and fans are beginning to dream of playing in Europe's elite club competition for the first time in eight years.

"We want to play in the Champions League next season," Biglia said. "It's going to be difficult to finish third but we just have to take it one game at a time."

Lazio, who have scored 10 times and conceded just once during their four-match winning run, are level on 46 points with fourth-place Napoli, who visit Hellas Verona on Sunday.

Torino head into the encounter looking to leave behind them a disappointing week.

The Granata saw their 15-game unbeaten run ended in last weekend's 3-2 defeat at Udinese and then fell 2-0 at Zenit St Petersburg in Thursday's Europa League last-16 first leg.

Toro host Zenit in the return leg on March 19.

"It's going to be hard but not impossible," Toro coach Giampiero Ventura said of their European campaign. "We will nevertheless give our all and try to turn around the result in the return leg."

Toro are ninth in the standings, 10 points adrift of Lazio, and have not lost at home since November 23.

Ventura will have all of his players available while Lazio must do without pivotal midfielder Antonio Candreva, who is suspended.

Candreva has scored five goals and set up seven more in 23 league appearances this season.