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Serie A Week 36 - 4/5/08 (14.00 UK)

Lazio - Palermo
Stadio Olimpico

Lazio welcome Palermo to the Stadio Olimpico this weekend with neither side having anything but pride to play for.

Aside from their Coppa Italia exploits against Inter, the Biancocelesti may as well have taken their summer holidays early this year as they have simply not been at the races since the 3-2 win over Roma in the Week 29 derby. They have failed to record a victory in the month or so which has followed and were humbled 5-2 by Juventus in their last outing after going 4-0 down before half-time. That match also highlighted the capital club’s problem with discipline as Sebastiano Siviglia was dismissed shortly after getting on the scoresheet.

As a result, the veteran defender will be absent when Palermo come to town. Ousmane Dabo is also on the bad boys’ list so he will be missing again, but Delio Rossi can welcome back two other players from suspension. Luciano Zauri is expected to slot into the defence in place of Siviglia, with Daniel Radu moving to left-back, while Argentine ace Cristian Ledesma is set to return to the line-up in place of Roberto Baronio. With Tommaso Rocchi still injured, expect Stefano Mauri to play just off the attacking duo of Goran Pandev and Rolando Bianchi, with the former needing just one goal to overtake Rocchi in the scorers’ chart.

Palermo Coach Stefano Colantuono is motivating his players by insisting that it is his future as well as their own that they are playing for, yet it didn’t seem to have any effect against his old side Atalanta last weekend as a stalemate ensued. To be fair to the follicly-challenged tactician, he was without several key players through suspension – including star striker Amauri. It is almost certain that the Brazilian ace won’t be at the Stadio Barbera next term, so every goal he nets between now and the end of the campaign will add to his transfer value, which is already estimated at close to £20m.

Unsurprisingly, the ex-Chievo hitman is set for a recall in place of Edison Cavani, who has managed just five strikes this term compared to Amauri’s 13. Mark Bresciano and Leandro Rinaudo are also back from bans, with the former settling for a place on the bench and the latter tipped to replace the suspended Cristian Zaccardo. Giulio Migliaccio is also pushing for a recall and it is thought that Giovanni Tedesco will be the man to make way in the middle of the park.

Since the Rosanero made their long-awaited return to Serie A in 2005 they have held the upper hand in this fixture, picking up three wins to Lazio’s two. However, the last two meetings have undoubtedly gone in the capital club’s favour after they fought back from 2-0 down to salvage a draw earlier this term and routed the Sicilians 3-0 at the Barbera last season.

Keep an eye on: Amauri (Palermo) – Lazio’s defence is looking creaky so the Brazilian will be desperate to make an impression on his many suitors with a world-class display.

Last season: Lazio 1-2 Palermo

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

Lazio (probable): Ballotta; De Silvestri, Cribari, Radu, Zauri; Mudingayi, Ledesma, Mutarelli; Mauri; Pandev, Bianchi

Palermo (probable): Agliardi; Cassani, Rinaudo, Barzagli, Balzaretti; Guana, Migliaccio; Jankovic, Miccoli, Caserta; Amauri

Ref: To follow...

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