Serie A Preview: Lazio-Lecce
Lazio - Lecce | News Archive
Lazio's striker Claudio Lopez (AP)
04/05/2002. Lazio-Lecce
AT STAKE
Seven days after one of the most convincing outings of their troubled season, Lazio will shoot for the fourth positive result in a row when they host Lecce, who desperately need a win in order to keep on hoping in a difficult save.
The Biancocelesti played a very good match last Sunday in Turin against Juventus, grabbing a deserved draw. It was a further confirmation that Lazio have managed to bounce back from the humiliating loss they suffered four rounds ago in the Rome derby.
Zaccheroni's men desperately need to win as much as possible from now to the end of the Serie A, as this would be the only way for them to grab a spot in next season's Uefa Cup. Lazio currently trail sixth-placed Chievo and fifth-placed Milan, who will face each other on Sunday afternoon, by five and six points respectively.
Lecce also will join this match after a positive result. The Salentini had no choice but winning against bottom-placed Venezia and they made it, but only at the end of a very difficult match. However, this victory didn't change the situation for Rossi's men that much, and they must try to fill a six-point gap in order to reach the safety. This means that they just can't afford to commit any false step in the last five rounds.
TEAM NEWS
-Lazio: plenty of troubles for coach Zaccheroni, who will miss at least eight players. Giannichedda is suspended, while Peruzzi, Crespo, Simone Inzaghi, Dino Baggio, Colonnese, Mendieta and Mihajlovic will all be sidelined with injuries. Furthermore, the hosts could also have to do without Stankovic, who is suffering from a muscular problem. Simeone is expected to be back in the middle, while Lopez will be the lone striker, supported by Fiore, who will play a step behind.
Probable line-up (4-4-1-1): Marchegiani; Stam, Nesta, Couto, Favalli;, Castroman, Liverani, Simeone, Stankovic; Fiore; Lopez
Bench: Favazza, Pancaro, *****, Poborski, Cesar, Gottardi, Evacuo
Injured: Peruzzi, Crespo, Simone Inzaghi, Dino Baggio, Colonnese, Mendieta, Mihajlovic
Suspended: Giannichedda
Cautioned (one more yellow card to be suspended): Simone Inzaghi, Nesta
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-Lecce. No big worries for coach Rossi, who will only miss two injured players, namely right wing-back Balleri and reserve striker Cimirotic. There will be a couple of changes in Lecce's line-up, compared to last week's home win over Venezia, as Juarez and Tonetto will replace Billy and Colonnello.
Starting line-up (4-4-2): Chimenti; Juarez, Silvestri, Popescu, Stovini; Giacomazzi, Conticchio, Piangerelli, Tonetto; Chevanton, Vugrinec
Bench: Frezzolini, Billy, Colonnello, Savino, Superbi, Vucinic, Biliotti
Injured: Balleri, Cimirotic
Suspended: none
Cautioned (one more yellow card to be suspended): Chevanton, Juarez, Savino
FORM GUIDE & NUMBERS
Lazio last 6 matches: WWLDWD. The humiliating defeat in the Capital derby against Roma was the lone false step for Lazio in the last six contests, as well as the only home defeat of the whole season. In the last two matches played at the Olimpico the Biancocelesti defeated Udinese and Venezia, while on the road a win in Bergamo over Atalanta was followed by two straight draws against Brescia and Juventus.
Overall: 10 W ?11 D ?8 L - Average points per match 1.41 ?Goals scored/conceded 39-29
At home: 7 W ?6 D ?1 L ?Average points per match 1.93 ?Goals scored/conceded 28-12
Lecce last 6 matches: WDLLLW. Venezia and Fiorentina, that's to say the two teams which follow them in the ranking, are the only sides Lecce have managed to defeat in their last 14 contests. Last week's home win over the Lagunari stopped a three-match losing streak for Rossi's men, who have conceded at least one goal in each of their last ten outings.
Overall: 6 W ?9 D ?14 L - Average points per match 0.93 ?Goals scored/conceded 32-46
Away: 3 W ?3 D ?8 L ?Average points per match 1.93 ?Goals scored/conceded 16-27
PLAYERS TO WATCH
-Lazio: Claudio Lopez. "El Piojo" was very effective against Juventus. Lazio miss both Crespo and Simone Inzaghi, so it will be difficult for them to win without the contribution of the speedy Argentinean striker.
-Lecce: Javier Chevanton. Same thing: Lecce need the three points, and the Uruguayan striker is by far the most effective among the Salentini in front of the opponents' net.
SOCCERAGE PREDICTION
Unfortunately for the guests, the lack of pressure in these final rounds seems to have produced a positive effect on Lazio, who were quite impressive against Juventus. In spite of their line-up troubles, the Biancocelesti shouldn't have big troubles in showing that they are by far the better team: Lecce found it difficult to defeat Venezia, I can't see them doing better at the Olimpico.
Lazio 3 Lecce 1
