One week away from their latest Premier League comeback, Burnley will welcome Lazio to Turf Moor on Saturday, as both sides warm up for the season ahead.
While the Clarets are hoping to secure top-flight survival, their visitors will be aiming for a place in Europe under returning boss Maurizio Sarri.
Match preview
Winning their final five games to amass 100 points in the 2024-25 campaign, Burnley made an instant return to the Premier League after one year away, only missing out on the Championship title on goal difference.
Having produced a well-drilled side renowned for their solid defence, Scott Parker now hopes to keep the Clarets afloat, as their last two top-flight seasons have both ended in relegation.
Among the favourites to suffer that fate once again, Burnley will start their survival quest against Tottenham Hotspur next week, after wrapping up a busy pre-season programme.
Having begun with two friendlies on the same day, using different XIs - one drawing 2-2 with Shrewsbury Town; the other beating Huddersfield Town 2-0 - they then lost to Stoke City after going down to 10 men.
With one eye on a tough trip to Spurs, Parker will therefore seek a morale-boosting home win this weekend, as his team meet opponents of a much higher calibre.
Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri, March 2024
After blowing up at the end of last season and entirely missing out on Europe, finishing with a costly home loss to Lecce, Lazio parted ways with head coach Marco Baroni following his sole year in charge at Stadio Olimpico.
Turning to an old hand as his replacement, Maurizio Sarri strode back into the club he left in March 2024, only to be confronted by a transfer embargo that instantly imploded his transfer plans.
Nonetheless, the ex-Chelsea coach has stated his intent to fight on and contend for a top-six finish, without the 'distraction' of midweek continental football to concern him.
In preparation, Lazio's summer schedule started off with a 1-0 win over Avellino last month, before they headed to Istanbul for back-to-back games against two Turkish giants.
Following a 1-0 defeat to Fenerbahce, the Biancocelesti fared better against Galatasaray last weekend, when they held the Super Lig champions to a 2-2 draw thanks to an own goal and Mattia Zaccagni's first-half strike.
Sarri's side will soon start their Serie A campaign - away to Como on August 24 - but first they must play two more friendlies, against Burnley and Atromitos.
Burnley pre-season form: W D L
Lazio pre-season form: W L D
Team News
Manager of Burnley Scott Parker on August 31, 2024
Facing a sharp step up in class, Burnley have been busy in the market this summer, with Kyle Walker being their most notable addition so far.
Quilindschy Hartman, Jacob Bruun Larsen and Loum Tchaouna had also arrived - the latter from Lazio - before midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu recently agreed to join from Chelsea. The Clarets are also keen on Blues forward Armando Broja.
However, James Trafford left for Manchester City and last season's top scorer Josh Brownhill has departed on a free; Swiss striker Zeki Amdouni is facing a long spell on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery.
By contrast, Lazio have been unable to bolster their squad due to a transfer ban, but they have managed to keep most players - Tchaouna aside.
The Rome club recently travelled to Turkey without injured defenders Patric and Samuel Gigot, alongside Danish winger Gustav Isaksen, who has been laid low by an illness.
The latter could return this weekend, when Maurizio Sarri's side should line up in a familiar 4-3-3 formation, spearheaded by main marksman Taty Castellanos.
Burnley possible starting lineup: Hladky; Walker, Tuanzebe, Esteve, Hartman; Cullen, Mejbri; Tchaouna, Flemming, Anthony; Foster
Lazio possible starting lineup: Mandas; Hysaj, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Guendouzi, Rovella, Vecino; Pedro, Castellanos, Zaccagni
SM words green background
We say: Burnley 1-0 Lazio
Burnley are one week ahead of Lazio in terms of building up to competitive football, so their greater fitness may prove the difference.
As the Clarets have also made some interesting signings, they can call upon more squad depth than their Italian counterparts.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
ID:578752:1false2false3false: from db desktop :LenBod:collect7019:
Previews by email
Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!