Serie A: LAZIO - CAGLIARI, Sunday 25-01-09

I dont wanna say it will be an easy game, we should concentrate for the 3 points, i wouldnt mind for the show also

This will be hard, no doubt. Cagliari now is completely different to the team we beat 4-1.

They have dominated Inter and Roma away from home and win nearly every match at home. We are better than them of course, but they are a quality side with a strong mentality and if we have a poor game will more than likely get punished.

Play the tridente, after his fantastic efforts in the Coppa Mauri could probably start ahead of Meghni, although Meghni's been OK.

I'm a bit worried about Zarate though, the guy is getting increasingly frustrated with his goal drought so I hope he gets one or two here to take the pressure of his shoulders. Also, he's one yellow card away from a one match ban.

Bring Diakite' back to mark Acquafresca, especially after his job on Amauri. Keep Acquafresca quiet and Cagliari find it tough to score. Dabo is suspended so Brocchi comes in as a straight swap.

With a strong effort, we should win.

Serie A Preview: Lazio - Cagliari
What: Serie A, Matchday 20 Who: Lazio (7th place, 31pts) vs Cagliari (11th place, 25pts) When: Sunday 25 January 2009, 15:00 CET Where: Stadio Olimpico, Roma

Eagles Nesting Upon High

Following five positive results, Lazio enter Sunday’s encounter in fine form as they continue on their journey towards a return to Europe. After last week's 1-1 draw with Scudetto hopefuls Juventus, the Biancocelesti closed the first half of the season on 31 points, a club record during the reign of Claudio Lotito.

In every season under current coach Delio Rossi, Lazio have managed to secure more points in the second half of the campaign. Should this trend continue the Capital club look well set to move further up the standings come May. However given the current competition from fellow Euro hopefuls such as Genoa, Napoli and Fiorentina, the Biancocelesti will be aware that it could prove to be by far their toughest run-in for a number of seasons.

With a number of close rivals going head-to-head on Sunday, Lazio will want to capitalise with nothing less than a victory. A positive result in front of the Biancocelesti faithful could not only launch Lazio towards the top spots, but may help increase the gap on arch-rivals Roma, who now sit a sole point behind in the standings.

Delio Rossi is aware that the longer his side keep a positive momentum going the better their chances are come the spring.

Belated Cagliari Continue To Climb

Despite their abysmal start to the campaign, Cagliari have turned their season around in spectacular fashion rising to 11th in the standings. Considering their early season setbacks, their current form is now on par with the Euro chasing sides such as Genoa, Napoli and Lazio. The Isolani can look back to early October when a hard fought stalemate against Milan jump-started their season and gave Allegri’s men a renewed confidence.

Coach Allegri can almost count the early season setbacks as a blessing after having more recently found consistency in his side. With his Cagliari team now sitting a handsome 10 points clear of the drop zone, they can afford to confront each game with a little less tension and look to consolidate their safety as soon as possible. Should their positive run continue, it could prove to be one of their most successful campaigns since the days of Carlo Mazzone.

Following their 2-0 victory over Udinese at the Sant’Elia, Cagliari will be buoyed by their ability to compete with anyone on their day. Whilst an away trip to the capital should prove to be a sterner test, the Isolani have the added incentive of revenge after being demolished 4-1 by the Biancocelesti on the opening day of the campaign.

FORM GUIDE

Lazio

22 January: Lazio 3-1 Torino (Coppa Italia)
18 January: Lazio 1-1 Juventus
11 January: Reggina 2-3 Lazio
22 December: Lazio 1-0 Palermo
14 December: Udinese 3-3 Lazio

Cagliari

18 January: Cagliari 2-0 Udinese
10 January: Inter 1-1 Cagliari
21 December: Cagliari 1-1 Reggina
14 December: Roma 3-2 Cagliari
7 December: Cagliari 1-0 Palermo

TEAM NEWS

Lazio

Delio Rossi will be without Ousmane Dabo who picked up his fourth booking last Sunday against Juventus. The good news for the Lazio tactician is the much awaited return of Francelino Matuzalem. The talented Brazilian has been out since late September, but should make the bench after making his recovery.

Probable Starting XI (4-3-3): Carrizo; Radu, Rozehnal, Diakité, Lichtsteiner; Ledesma, Brocchi, Mauri; Zarate, Rocchi, Pandev

Cagliari

Massimiliano Allegri will have to make do without Alessandro Agostini who is nursing a tendon injury. Andrea Cossu will also miss the encounter through suspension after he received his eighth booking last week. The rest of the side remains unchanged from the victory over Udinese.

Probable Starting XI (4-3-1-2): Marchetti; Pisano, Bianco, Lopez, Matheu; Biondini, Fini, Conti; Lazzari; Aquafresca, Jeda

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mauro Zarate vented his fury at Delio Rossi after being substituted last week. The talented Argentine will want to avoid a repeat performance after having apologised to all concerned. On his Serie A debut he managed a brace against the Isolani, and a similar performance on Sunday would surely re-affirm his how vital he is in Lazio’s push towards Europe.

Cagliari stopper Federico Marchetti has been a key figure in Cagliari’s campaign so far after featuring in every single minute played. Despite being his debut season in the top flight, his 22 goals conceded mean that Cagliari currently have the eighth best defence in the league. He will surely want to make amends for the four goals conceded against Lazio in the reverse fixture on the opening day.

PREDICTION

Both sides approach Sunday’s encounter on the back of some fine form so far this year. Given previous meetings at the Stadio Olimpico in recent years it is unlikely that the Isolani have enough to record a win, especially considering Lazio have only lost twice at home so far this season. I predict Lazio to run out winners on Sunday as they continue to chase the European spots.

Lazio 2-0 Cagliari

Stefano Federici, Goal.com

Cagliari improved a lot and I expect a tough match.


I only wish we score early, that way it is much easier for us.

I would like to see Zarate on the bench for this one..this guy must really understand some things. I would like to go in front with Foggia or even Inzaghi insted of him.

Anyway..vital 3 points.

Non Mollare Mai !!

Like all of our matches - Important - especially since it's at home. Have to take advantage of this. I hope the boys are still feeling good from their 3-1, come from behind, victory over Torino too! Take that momentum into the Cagliari match, ragazzi, because they have been playing well too and most likely believe they can grab a point if not 3 from us.

Inzaghi in place of Zarate!? LOL!

Not to poke fun, but really? That's a horrible move. Perhaps, we should start Dabo as keeper? Yes, Zarate needs to start behaving more like a team player, but he's still VERY vital to our success.

Its not gonna be a easy game. But we most win against team like cagliari, Is just like that.

Its not only that we have a game we should win, but also that we have a round whwre our main opponents play eachother, or have hard competition. This could be a round seeing us climg a few positions...if we win...which we should...

c. testa wrote:

I'm a bit worried about Zarate though, the guy is getting increasingly frustrated with his goal drought so I hope he gets one or two here to take the pressure of his shoulders. Also, he's one yellow card away from a one match ban.

Bench Zaraté, we dont want him getting a yellow and then suspended against Milan. Play Pandev, Rocchi and Foggia/Mauri.

FORZA LAZIOOO!!!

laziofan wrote:

c. testa wrote:

I'm a bit worried about Zarate though, the guy is getting increasingly frustrated with his goal drought so I hope he gets one or two here to take the pressure of his shoulders. Also, he's one yellow card away from a one match ban.

Bench Zaraté, we dont want him getting a yellow and then suspended against Milan. Play Pandev, Rocchi and Foggia/Mauri.

FORZA LAZIOOO!!!

We play Samp away before the game with Milan, so let him play if he's fit.

Sile wrote:

laziofan wrote:

c. testa wrote:

I'm a bit worried about Zarate though, the guy is getting increasingly frustrated with his goal drought so I hope he gets one or two here to take the pressure of his shoulders. Also, he's one yellow card away from a one match ban.

Bench Zaraté, we dont want him getting a yellow and then suspended against Milan. Play Pandev, Rocchi and Foggia/Mauri.

FORZA LAZIOOO!!!

We play Samp away before the game with Milan, so let him play if he's fit.

Oh oh sorry I missed that.

As usual, another tough game. Cagliari are a good side and they have improved very much since the beginning of the season so well done to the Sardinians. Lazio should not take the game lightly at all. Its a home game so the advantage should be in our favour but they will no doubt come to the Olimpico ready to play from the first whistle and will also want to make amends for the trashing Lazio gave them in the Sant'Elia on matchday 1 of the season. If Rossi has the team motivated well and they play as well as they did in the second half against Torino in the Coppa, then I am confident of a good Biancocelesti showing and hopefully a win!

FORZA LAZIO!!!!

I want only 2 things:Zarate and Mauri on the bench,Foggia on the PITCH!!!

FORZA LAZIOOOOOO!!!

LaziOttimo wrote:

I want only 2 things:Zarate and Mauri on the bench,Foggia on the PITCH!!!

FORZA LAZIOOOOOO!!!

Why?

Zarate will re-discover his goalform against Cagliari!!

Cagliari will be without their key creative player Andrea Cossu and an important defender Agostini. Bit of a boost for us, I guess.

Dejan wrote:

LaziOttimo wrote:

I want only 2 things:Zarate and Mauri on the bench,Foggia on the PITCH!!!

FORZA LAZIOOOOOO!!!

Why?

Just to realise that he's not God and he belongs to Lazio,not Lazio to him.In Mauri's case:he's place is not at Lazio!Simple...

I think Mauri deserves a chance after his 2nd half performace against Torino, although i highly doubt we will see the same man.

No Meghni, Siviglia or Radu tomorrow. Rozehnal and Diakite at the back, Mauri in the midfield, Matuzalem on the bench.

I hope Matuzalem shows why we got him here

Good quality steam from Tv station that transmit Seria A matches here in Macedonia, the commentary is of course Macedonian but the quality is far better then adtche.

http://www.zulu.mk/live/telma

Jofo wrote:

Good quality steam from Tv station that transmit Seria A matches here in Macedonia, the commentary is of course Macedonian but the quality is far better then adtche.

http://www.zulu.mk/live/telma

Great stream man, thanks. But it's really annoying with the commercials all the time

After viola losing to juve today, a win for us tomorrow would mean at least one step up the ladder for us. psycholgically, being in top six feels far better than being just outside the six...

Also, remember napoli play merda...so a good week for us to either create some space between us and the scums again...or advance a few steps...no matter what, we have a game tomorrow that we have to win...

Biancocelesti wrote:

Jofo wrote:

Good quality steam from Tv station that transmit Seria A matches here in Macedonia, the commentary is of course Macedonian but the quality is far better then adtche.

http://www.zulu.mk/live/telma

Great stream man, thanks. But it's really annoying with the commercials all the time

But you Bionacocelesti can watch the game on telly tomorrow

Cash wrote:

After viola losing to juve today, a win for us tomorrow would mean at least one step up the ladder for us. psycholgically, being in top six feels far better than being just outside the six...

Also, remember napoli play merda...so a good week for us to either create some space between us and the scums again...or advance a few steps...no matter what, we have a game tomorrow that we have to win...

Spot on, but in addittion to that, we have Milan and Fiorentina in recent weeks and whatever the outcome of those games, we have to be in close proximity to all the UEFA Cup chasers after those.

To get into Europe, we need to do one of two things. We need to either put our competitors out of the race by beating them or we need to get involved in the title race so we can afford to lose to Inter and Juve late in the season. Either that or we hope the title race is over very soon so that Inter and Juve won't fight so hard when we next play them.