For a club like Lazio, a Scudetto triumph is always going to be a bonus but for the former Italian champions to continue to keep dreaming of a first championship since 2000 they will have to continue to bag points and keep league leaders Milan in sight.
Lazio are currently second in the table with 26 points from 13 matches and are three points off the pace. Last weekend Edy Reja's side were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Parma away from home and it followed a morale-boosting 2-0 victory over Napoli in Rome. In the two previous league fixtures, though, the Aquile had suffered defeats and things have to be improve and become more steady.
However, the Biancocelesti have a good record at the Stadio Olimpico and have won four of the league matches there. Winning against Catania at home is not going to be easy especially as the Sicilians have looked good and are picking up points but Lazio will go into this match as favourites.
Mid-Table Security
Catania were considered relegation material at the start of the season but so far the Sicilians have combated that danger well. At the moment the Etnei are in tenth position with 17 points from 12 matches, a healthy six points above the relegation zone.
Last weekend Marco Giampaolo's side defeated rock-bottom Bari 1-0 in front of their own supporters and bounced back from the Sicilian derby defeat to Palermo the week before. Catania, though, have had a pretty good record in recent weeks as they have lost just once in their last six competitive games.
Nevertheless, Catania will have to put in loads of effort against Lazio if they plan to register a win at the Olimpico. The Rossazzurri have not registered a win on the road yet in the league and have lost four of the six matches. Bagging maximum points promises to be extremely tough; even a draw will have to be earned.
TEAM NEWS
Lazio
Meghni, Biava and Quadri are out injured injured. Edy Reja is likely to opt for a 4-2-3-1 formation that will have Zarate as the lone striker with Hernanes, Floccari and Mauri as the three attacking midfielders just behind him.
Catania
Capuano, Pesce, Bellusci, Carboni, Augustyn and Spolli are unavailable for the trip to Rome as they are nursing injuries. Maxi Lopez is suspended.
Prediction
A win for Lazio can be expected but they must take care not to concede an early goal to the Sicilians.
Lazio 2-0 Catania 
