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Serie A Week 30 - 22/3/08 (14.00 UK)
Fiorentina - Lazio

Stadio Franchi

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Lazio are flying high after their sensational derby victory, but face a Fiorentina side eager to consolidate fourth place.

This time last season this fixture was a head-to-head battle for a place in the Champions League, but although the Biancocelesti have fallen by the wayside they are back with a bang.

Delio Rossi’s new trident attack is working wonders and all three – Tommaso Rocchi, Goran Pandev and penalty-winner Rolando Bianchi – contributed to their 3-2 win over rivals Roma.

That result tasted particularly sweet as the Giallorossi had the chance to close the gap on leaders Inter to four points, but instead were left seven behind. Undefeated since the February 24 trip to Cagliari, President Claudio Lotito praised Lazio for “rediscovering the humility and spirit they had last season.”

The usual injury crisis applies with Luciano Zauri, Simone Del Nero, Fabio Firmani and Mobido Diakhitè sidelined, but Stefan Radu is expected to return from a thigh problem to replace Aleksandr Kolarov at left-back. Valon Behrami keeps his place on the right wing after the stoppage-time winning goal on Wednesday and Ousmane Dabo is expected to start instead of Gaby Mudingayi.

Fiorentina became the latest giants to feel the San Paolo effect in a 2-0 loss away to Napoli midweek, but were fortunate in that Milan also lost, so their four-point lead for a Champions League spot remains intact. They’ll be hoping to make the most of home advantage, especially as they have won five of their last six at the Stadio Franchi.

Having Adrian Mutu back after a month out with a sprained knee has been a real boost, especially as the other forwards are struggling to find form. Ndiaye Papa Waigo should get a starting spot in the trident attack along with Mutu and either Giampaolo Pazzini or Daniel Pablo Osvaldo. Martin Jorgensen, Alessandro Gamberini, Franco Semioli, Alberto Santana and Christian Vieri are still nursing injuries, so Zdravko Kuzmanovic has a good chance of playing in midfield.

It’s set to be a cracker for the neutral viewer, as there hasn’t been a draw in this fixture since April 2000 and that was a spectacular 3-3 decided by Gabriel Batistuta in stoppages. Lazio have an excellent record in Florence of late, having won four trips on the trot before last season’s 1-0 Viola victory.

Keep an eye on: Goran Pandev (Lazio) – Like Adrian Mutu, a former Inter benchwarmer who went on to greater things. He was pulling the strings in the derby, scoring a goal and providing an assist.

Last season: Fiorentina 1-0 Lazio

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


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Fiorentina (probable): Frey; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Kroldrup, Pasqual; Montolivo, Donadel, Kuzmanovic; Papa Waigo, Pazzini, Mutu

Lazio (probable): Ballotta; De Silvestri, Siviglia, Cribari, Radu; Dabo, Ledesma, Behrami; Pandev, Bianchi, Rocchi

Ref: To follow...

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