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Serie A Week 25 - 27/2/08 (19.30 UK)
Lazio - Reggina

Stadio Olimpico

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Lazio are a side in turmoil as they play host to a buoyant Reggina side in a crunch encounter at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Lazio fans are making their displeasure heard and heckled the side at Cagliari Airport after their latest afternoon of ignominy, which saw a 1-0 defeat against the rock-bottom Sardinians. Just as it seemed the Biancocelesti had turned things around with a confident win over Atalanta, they turned in the kind of flaccid performance that has blighted their season.

Coach Delio Rossi has admitted that the pressure is rising, as his side look complete strangers from the team that finished third last term. The capital club cannot afford anything less than a win here if they are to keep their notoriously fiery fans onside. One key to the Aquile’s woes has been ill discipline – they have seen seven red cards and 65 yellows this year. Added to a lengthy injury list, suspensions are proving costly and adding to the disjointed feel of the team.

Reggina are on a high after securing a heroic, albeit fortunate, 2-1 win over Juventus last Saturday.
However, veteran boss Renzo Ulivieri knows all too well that he must harness the momentum and not let his side rest on their laurels. The result may have ended a miserable run, but the Amaranto are still in penultimate place and could quickly be cut adrift.

The Calabrian fans would feel lost without their annual relegation battle, but it remains to be seen whether Ulivieri’s experience is a match for former Coach Walter Mazzarri’s nous. If they are to survive, Reggina must stop trying to pass the ball into the net. They have had the fewest shots on target in the top flight with just 83 – a total that amounts to fewer than three and a half per game.

Reggina had the better of Week 6’s meeting and were unlucky not to take all three points in a 1-1 draw. The Stadio Olimpico is far from a fortress for Lazio, who have been beaten there five times this season, but their visitors are yet to win away and have scored just seven times on their travels.

Rossi is without former Reggina man Fabio Firmani, Luciano Zauri and Massimo Mutarelli. Rolando Bianchi may get a chance to make his mark alongside Tommaso Rocchi.

Reggina have much bigger worries. Last weekend’s goal hero Nicola Amoruso is suspended, which allows Stephen Makinwa to lead the line against the side he left in January. Maurizio Lanzaro is also banned, so Bruno Cirillo is set to drop back to defence. Portuguese stopper Angelo Garcia, midfielder Simone Missiroli and striker Fabio Ceravolo are all injured.

Keep an eye on: Franco Brienza (Reggina) – The midfielder scored against Juventus and has been a driving force since arriving from Palermo in the January transfer window.

Last season: Lazio 0-0 Reggina

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


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Lazio (probable): Ballotta; De Silvestri, Siviglia, Cribari, Kolarov; Mudingayi, Ledesma, Manfredini, Mauri; Bianchi, Rocchi

Reggina (probable): Campagnolo; Cirillo, Valdez, Aronica; Alvarez, Barreto, Cascione, Hallfredsson; Vigiani, Brienza, Makinwa

Ref: To follow...

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