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Serie A Week 34 - 20/4/08 (14.00 UK)
Catania - Lazio
Stadio Massimino
It should be a tense and entertaining clash between Catania and Lazio at the Stadio Angelo Massimino in Week 34. After a disappointing derby defeat against Palermo, the Rossoblu need some vital points in order to avoid relegation while the Biancocelesti may be short of motivation.
Catania currently sit 15th in the table, two points ahead of Reggina and Empoli which means they cannot afford anymore slip-ups. The arrival of new boss Walter Zenga has had a positive effect on the team so far, but survival is still at stake. “Sometimes certain situations can penalise you,” said the former Nazionale veteran. “We proved all our strength against Palermo and were unfortunate to lose.”
Meanwhile, Lazio hold a mid-table position and their only ambition is to end the season with style. They were held 1-1 by Siena last weekend, but President Claudio Lotito was happy with his team’s display. “Perhaps we could have stayed focused until the end, but overall we were competitive.”
The Biancocelesti have collected three consecutive draws and will be hoping to bag their first win in Catania since 1961. Last year’s encounter at the Massimino ended 3-1 in favour of the locals. The Sicilians and the Laziali will also be playing in the first leg of the Italian Cup semi-finals this week facing Roma and Inter respectively.
The Rossoblu used to line up with a 4-3-3 formation but with Zenga they have switched to a more effective 4-4-2 formation. Andrea Sottil will be missing in defence and should be replaced by Christian Terlizzi. Explosive full-back Juan Vargas will start from midfield. Mariano Izco should also be included in the starting XI. In attack it looks like Giuseppe Mascara next to ‘Il Gabbiano’ Gionatha Spinesi. Jorge Martinez will have to sit on the bench while Japanese starlet Takayuki Morimoto has recovered from injury but is not ready for action yet.
Lazio boss Delio Rossi is trying to give space to all of his players so there could be several surprises in the starting line-up. Fernando Muslera should start in goal despite his awful performance against Siena. Sebastiano Siviglia is suspended so former Newcastle man David Rozenhal may play in defence. Stefano Mauri will be the Trequartista behind Rolando Bianchi and one out of Tommaso Rocchi and Goran Pandev.
Keep an eye on: Giuseppe Mascara (Catania) – ‘Topolinick’ has been poor so far this season, scoring only four goals in 30 appearances, and Catania desperately need his help.
Last season: Catania 3-1 Lazio
Form guide: Catania (D D L W L) Lazio (W L D D D)
Catania (probable): Polito; Sardo, Terlizzi, Stovini, Sabato; Izco, Gia.Tedesco, Edusei, Vargas; Mascara, Spinesi
Lazio (probable): Muslera; Zauri, Rozenhal, Cribari, Radu; Mudingay, Ledesma, Mutarelli; Mauri; Bianchi, Rocchi
Ref: To follow...
channel4
Catania - Lazio
Stadio Massimino
It should be a tense and entertaining clash between Catania and Lazio at the Stadio Angelo Massimino in Week 34. After a disappointing derby defeat against Palermo, the Rossoblu need some vital points in order to avoid relegation while the Biancocelesti may be short of motivation.
Catania currently sit 15th in the table, two points ahead of Reggina and Empoli which means they cannot afford anymore slip-ups. The arrival of new boss Walter Zenga has had a positive effect on the team so far, but survival is still at stake. “Sometimes certain situations can penalise you,” said the former Nazionale veteran. “We proved all our strength against Palermo and were unfortunate to lose.”
Meanwhile, Lazio hold a mid-table position and their only ambition is to end the season with style. They were held 1-1 by Siena last weekend, but President Claudio Lotito was happy with his team’s display. “Perhaps we could have stayed focused until the end, but overall we were competitive.”
The Biancocelesti have collected three consecutive draws and will be hoping to bag their first win in Catania since 1961. Last year’s encounter at the Massimino ended 3-1 in favour of the locals. The Sicilians and the Laziali will also be playing in the first leg of the Italian Cup semi-finals this week facing Roma and Inter respectively.
The Rossoblu used to line up with a 4-3-3 formation but with Zenga they have switched to a more effective 4-4-2 formation. Andrea Sottil will be missing in defence and should be replaced by Christian Terlizzi. Explosive full-back Juan Vargas will start from midfield. Mariano Izco should also be included in the starting XI. In attack it looks like Giuseppe Mascara next to ‘Il Gabbiano’ Gionatha Spinesi. Jorge Martinez will have to sit on the bench while Japanese starlet Takayuki Morimoto has recovered from injury but is not ready for action yet.
Lazio boss Delio Rossi is trying to give space to all of his players so there could be several surprises in the starting line-up. Fernando Muslera should start in goal despite his awful performance against Siena. Sebastiano Siviglia is suspended so former Newcastle man David Rozenhal may play in defence. Stefano Mauri will be the Trequartista behind Rolando Bianchi and one out of Tommaso Rocchi and Goran Pandev.
Keep an eye on: Giuseppe Mascara (Catania) – ‘Topolinick’ has been poor so far this season, scoring only four goals in 30 appearances, and Catania desperately need his help.
Last season: Catania 3-1 Lazio
Form guide: Catania (D D L W L) Lazio (W L D D D)
Catania (probable): Polito; Sardo, Terlizzi, Stovini, Sabato; Izco, Gia.Tedesco, Edusei, Vargas; Mascara, Spinesi
Lazio (probable): Muslera; Zauri, Rozenhal, Cribari, Radu; Mudingay, Ledesma, Mutarelli; Mauri; Bianchi, Rocchi
Ref: To follow...
channel4