VALENZANA, Italy (Interstat) — Valenzana will seek to avenge a December defeat and improve its playoff positioning when it hosts Lavagnese in a Serie D fixture on Sunday.

The match at Stadio Comunale is a crucial late-season encounter in Italy’s fourth tier. Valenzana enters with momentum, having lost just once in its last five league matches (3-1-1). Its most recent result was a 1-1 home draw with Gozzano on April 12. Key victories in that span include a 2-1 win at Varese on April 2 and a 1-0 triumph over Ligorna on March 29.

Lavagnese, however, arrives under pressure, mired in a four-match winless streak (0-2-2). Its slide continued with a 2-1 home loss to Vado on April 12, preceded by a scoreless draw at Gozzano and a 4-2 home defeat to Club Milano. The club’s form has been inconsistent since the winter, managing only two wins in its last eleven outings.

The visitors will draw confidence from the head-to-head record, having defeated Valenzana 2-0 in Liguria on Dec. 7. That result is part of a broader trend of defensive struggles for Valenzana, which has conceded four or more goals in three separate league matches this season, including a 6-1 loss at Vado on March 22.

Valenzana’s attack, led by recent contributors in its wins over Varese and Club Milano, will look to exploit a Lavagnese defense that has allowed two or more goals in six of its last eleven games. Conversely, Lavagnese will aim to rediscover its scoring touch after being shut out in three of its last five matches.

According to the Interstat game simulator, the most likely outcome is a 1-1 draw. A point would likely suit Valenzana’s aspirations more as the season enters its final weeks, while Lavagnese desperately needs a full three points to reverse its fading form.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) on Sunday, April 19.