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Serie A Week 12 - 19/11/06 (14.00 UK)

Messina - Lazio
Stadio Picchi

Messina face a tough home game against a reborn Lazio in their Week 12 match. The two teams have 14 and 12 points respectively so the Biancocelesti will be aiming to overtake the Sicilians by winning at the Stadio San Filippo.

Last season’s clash ended 1-1 with goals from Rafael and former Chievo winger Christian Manfredini. Lazio have one of the best defences in the League, having conceded only 10 goals, on the other hand Messina have one of the worst with 15 against. Both teams have scored 15 goals so far this season.

Messina boss Bruno Giordano was very disappointed after last week’s draw against Cagliari. The Giallorossi were in the lead for most of the game, but conceded a late equaliser from the Rossoblu. Giordano has claimed that his team deserved the three points.

Marco Zanchi will still be out due to a three game suspension and he should be replaced by the young Enrico Morello. Marco Zoro is still injured and won’t even sit on the bench. In the midfield Carmine Coppola and Nicolas Cordova may play in the central positions with Salvatore Masiello and Edgar Alvarez on the left and right spots. In attack Giordano will have to decide who partners Capocannoniere Christian Riganò seeing as Ivica Iliev and Sergio Floccari are available.

Coach Delio Rossi was delighted after the 5-0 victory over Udinese. The Biancocelesti now seem to have finally found some form, but they need to get something out of this trip to Sicily.

In defence Guglielmo Stendardo and Sebastiano Siviglia should play, while Cribari who returns from a suspension will have to watch from the bench. Captain Massimo Oddo will take the right-back spot as usual and Luciano Zauri will play on the left.

In the midfield Cristian Ledesma, Roberto Baronio and Massimo Mutarelli may start from the first minute. Stefano Mauri, who scored twice last week, will probably play as a trequartista. In attack, next to Tommaso Rocchi, Coach Rossi will have to judge whether to recall Stephen Makinwa after opting for Goran Pandev against Udinese.

Man on fire: Christian Riganò (Messina) – Messina’s star-man is the Serie A top scorer with eight goals. His strike against Cagliari last week was impressive and the former Fiorentina striker seems to have become a real goal machine.

Last season: Messina 1-1 Lazio

Form guide: Messina (D L W D D) Lazio (L L D D W)

Messina (probable): Storari; Lavecchia, Morello, Iuliano, Parisi; Alvarez, Cordova, Coppola, Masiello; Floccari, Riganò

Lazio (probable): Peruzzi, Oddo, Stendardo, Siviglia, Zauri; Mutarelli, Ledesma, Baronio, Mauri; Rocchi, Pandev

Ref: To follow...

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...7/mes-laz.html