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Serie A Week 18 - 13/1/08 (14.00 UK)
Lazio - Genoa

Stadio Olimpico

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Both these sides were frankly glad of the Christmas break during which to recharge their batteries after a poor run of results.

Lazio have been struggling with an injury crisis since the start of the season and that inevitably took its toll, but with their exit from Europe and time to focus on training without games every three days, only two men remain in the treatment room. Mobido Diakhitè is out for the campaign with a fractured leg, while Mourad Meghni is sidelined in the short term. Nonetheless, Delio Rossi still has precious few options, as Lorenzo De Silvestri, Sebastiano Siviglia and Cristian Ledesma are all suspended, so Fabio Vignaroli could again be drafted into midfield.

All eyes will be on strikers Goran Pandev and Tommaso Rocchi, who could be playing some of their final matches in the Biancocelesti jersey. The Macedonian has been linked with Bayern Munich, while Rocchi publicly refused to shake President Claudio Lotito’s hand in front of television cameras following a row over his contract extension. Until goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo can get his EU passport, the gloves remain on the hands of 43-year-old Marco Ballotta.

Lazio have won just one of their last five Serie A games, although they showed character to fight back from 2-0 down and earn a point away to Palermo before Christmas. Genoa also got a much-needed confidence booster in their final game of 2007, defeating Parma 1-0 thanks to a Marco Borriello spot-kick. That was their first victory since October 7 and hauled them back to mid-table safety.

The history books tend to side with the Biancocelesti in this fixture, as Genoa have not won here since a 4-2 result in January 1959 and have lost their last two visits by a 4-0 scoreline. It will be a special occasion for Marco Di Vaio, who grew up in the Lazio youth system, but he is unlikely to start ahead of the preferred trident with Giuseppe Sculli, Borriello and Julio Cesar Leon.

Borriello is the key figure for Genoa, having scored 50 per cent of all their Serie A goals this season. The real changes are in defence, where Domenico Criscito returns on loan from Juventus to the club where he first impressed in Serie B last term.

Keep an eye on: Marco Borriello (Genoa) – The Milan-owned striker has scored half of all his team’s goals this season, so it goes without saying he is the danger man for Lazio’s reshuffled defence.

Last season: Not played.

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


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Lazio (probable): Ballotta; Behrami, Scaloni, Cribari, Zauri; Vignaroli, Mudingayi, Mutarelli, Mauri; Pandev, Rocchi

Genoa (probable): Rubinho; Bovo, De Rosa, Criscito; Rossi, Paro, Juric, Fabiano; Leon, Borriello, Sculli

Ref: To follow...

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