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Serie A Week 5 - 26/9/07 (19.30 UK)
Lazio-Cagliari

Stadio Olimpico


Cagliari can heap more misery on Lazio when the two sides meet at the Stadio Olimpico for the first midweek round of the Serie A season. Delio Rossi’s team have endured a frustrating start to the campaign, as they are yet to win in the League and were beaten by Atalanta at the weekend thanks to a stunning last-gasp strike from Riccardo Zampagna.

It’s hard not to feel sorry for the highly-rated tactician, who has had to put up with a ridiculous amount of injuries already this term, while his board let him down in the transfer market. That has left the Biancocelesti short on numbers for their first Champions League campaign in four years, but President Claudio Lotito would argue that it’s quality, not quantity, which makes the difference.

Mobido Diakhite, Fabio Firmani and Sebastiano Siviglia are all long-term absentees, but fortunately there are few other worries in the injury department for Lazio. Massimo Mutarelli is likely to once again miss out on the starting XI despite coming off the bench to net what had looked like a point-saving goal for the capital club at the weekend, while the strike pairing of Goran Pandev and Stephen Makinwa are likely to be given another outing as Rossi seems almost certain to name an unchanged team.

His opposite number Marco Giampaolo appears to be digging himself out of a hole thanks to some decent early-season performances from his Sardinian outfit, as he was among the bookies’ favourites to be the first Coach axed this term. He owes plenty to a man who was wearing the Biancocelesti’s colours not too long ago, as Pasquale Foggia has been playing like a man possessed. Indeed, his form has been so good that Italy boss Roberto Donadoni called him up for the recent European Championship qualifiers.

It seems likely that Giampaolo will follow Rossi’s lead by picking the same players who narrowly lost to Palermo in a game which they dominated for large periods. Skipper Diego Lopez is out of action for at least a month and Joe Bizera is also in the treatment room. The form of Alessandro Matri – scorer of two goals this term – is likely to be enough to ensure fellow young gun Robert Acquafresca remains on the bench.

Lazio last beat Cagliari at the Olimpico eight years ago, although they were victorious last term in Sardinia thanks to goals from Emilson Cribari and Rocchi. This isn’t one for the neutrals though, as three of the last four meetings have finished all square, including a dour stalemate around this time last year. Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself…

Keep an eye on: Pasquale Foggia (Cagliari) – The impressive attacking-midfielder is making a real splash in Sardinia and he’ll be hoping to give the club that still part owns him a first-hand look at what they are missing.

Last season: Lazio 0-0 Cagliari

Form guide: Lazio (- D D D L) Cagliari (- W L D L)


Lazio (probable): Muslera; Behrami, Stendardo, Cribari, Zauri; Mauri, Mudingayi, Ledesma, Manfredini; Pandev, Makinwa

Cagliari (probable): Fortin; Ferri, Canini, Bianco, Del Grosso; Foggia, Conti, Parola, D'Agostino; Larrivey, Matri

Ref: To follow...

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