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Serie A Week 4 - 24/9/08 (19.30 UK)
Lazio - Fiorentina
Stadio Olimpico
Lazio are looking to bounce back from Sunday’s thrashing at the hands of Milan, but visitors Fiorentina will be keen to pick up the pace after recording their first Serie A win.
After a superb start to the season, there was something hauntingly familiar about Lazio’s 4-1 defeat at Milan. Delio Rossi’s new-look side is hardly recognisable as last term’s flops but they showed worrying defensive frailty as they fell to their first reverse of the season at San Siro.
Rossi seemed unfazed by Sunday’s slip-up. “This is just the beginning and we weren't world beaters before this game, nor are we a disaster area now,” he asserted. But if the Aquile boss is to lead his men to their objective of UEFA Cup qualification, he needs to pick up points in games like this. If the Biancocelesti take the lead, the swagger could return, but conceding early could see the Lazio of 2007-08 rear its ugly head.
Fiorentina struggled past Bologna last weekend and the relief was palpable at the Stadio Artemio Franchi as the Viola recorded their first win of the season. After a draw with Juventus and a defeat at Napoli, it was essential that the Gigliati take at least four points from Bologna and Lazio – now they will believe they can take all six.
Cesare Prandelli’s main task this term is juggling Champions League commitments and a top-four League campaign and the fixtures are starting to pile up for the Tuscans. Can the Gigliati adapt to being one of Italy’s giants? This is the kind of fixture that separates the big guns from the nearly-men.
Fiorentina seem to have the Indian sign over Lazio and have won the last four Serie A meetings between the sides 1-0.
Lazio are without the usual injured parties. Star striker Tommaso Rocchi heads the list with Ousmane Dabo, Simone Del Nero and Fabio Firmani also out of action. Former Fiorentina midfielder Cristian Brocchi is ready to face a former side for the second consecutive match.
Prandelli is only missing Manuel Pasqual – except for the Venetian left-back the Viola are at full strength.
Keep an eye on: Mauro Zarate (Lazio) – The Argentine marksman is setting Serie A alight and tops the Capocannoniere chart with four goals to his name.
Last season: Lazio 0-1 Fiorentina
Form guide: Lazio (W W L - -) Fiorentina (D L W - -)
Lazio (probable): Carrizo; Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Rozehnal, Kolarov; Brocchi, Ledesma, Matuzalem, Mauri; Zarate, Pandev
Fiorentina (probable): Frey; Jorgensen, Dainelli, Gamberini, Gobbi; Melo, Montolivo, Donadel, Santana; Gilardino, Mutu
Ref: To follow…
channel4
Lazio - Fiorentina
Stadio Olimpico
Lazio are looking to bounce back from Sunday’s thrashing at the hands of Milan, but visitors Fiorentina will be keen to pick up the pace after recording their first Serie A win.
After a superb start to the season, there was something hauntingly familiar about Lazio’s 4-1 defeat at Milan. Delio Rossi’s new-look side is hardly recognisable as last term’s flops but they showed worrying defensive frailty as they fell to their first reverse of the season at San Siro.
Rossi seemed unfazed by Sunday’s slip-up. “This is just the beginning and we weren't world beaters before this game, nor are we a disaster area now,” he asserted. But if the Aquile boss is to lead his men to their objective of UEFA Cup qualification, he needs to pick up points in games like this. If the Biancocelesti take the lead, the swagger could return, but conceding early could see the Lazio of 2007-08 rear its ugly head.
Fiorentina struggled past Bologna last weekend and the relief was palpable at the Stadio Artemio Franchi as the Viola recorded their first win of the season. After a draw with Juventus and a defeat at Napoli, it was essential that the Gigliati take at least four points from Bologna and Lazio – now they will believe they can take all six.
Cesare Prandelli’s main task this term is juggling Champions League commitments and a top-four League campaign and the fixtures are starting to pile up for the Tuscans. Can the Gigliati adapt to being one of Italy’s giants? This is the kind of fixture that separates the big guns from the nearly-men.
Fiorentina seem to have the Indian sign over Lazio and have won the last four Serie A meetings between the sides 1-0.
Lazio are without the usual injured parties. Star striker Tommaso Rocchi heads the list with Ousmane Dabo, Simone Del Nero and Fabio Firmani also out of action. Former Fiorentina midfielder Cristian Brocchi is ready to face a former side for the second consecutive match.
Prandelli is only missing Manuel Pasqual – except for the Venetian left-back the Viola are at full strength.
Keep an eye on: Mauro Zarate (Lazio) – The Argentine marksman is setting Serie A alight and tops the Capocannoniere chart with four goals to his name.
Last season: Lazio 0-1 Fiorentina
Form guide: Lazio (W W L - -) Fiorentina (D L W - -)
Lazio (probable): Carrizo; Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Rozehnal, Kolarov; Brocchi, Ledesma, Matuzalem, Mauri; Zarate, Pandev
Fiorentina (probable): Frey; Jorgensen, Dainelli, Gamberini, Gobbi; Melo, Montolivo, Donadel, Santana; Gilardino, Mutu
Ref: To follow…
channel4
Our defence is a joke. So´s our midfield at the minute too
