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Serie A Week 38 - 18/5/08 (14.00 UK)

Lazio - Napoli
Stadio Olimpico

There’s only pride at stake at the Stadio Olimpico as Lazio and Napoli meet in a mid-table battle that could be Delio Rossi’s last game on the Biancocelesti bench.

It has been a dismal campaign for Lazio and beleaguered tactician Rossi. After last term’s sensational third-placed finish, the Aquile have found themselves languishing in the bottom half and saw their last chance of UEFA Cup football evaporate with last week’s Coppa Italia semi-final exit.

Ironically, the Biancocelesti beat Genoa 2-0 last week and secured just their second away win of the season. But that hasn’t stopped the constant rumours that Coach Rossi will be leaving in the summer. Sporting director Walter Sabatini has already resigned and it could be that this is the final game of the Rossi era. He will want to go out with a bang.

Napoli have successfully returned to the top flight and gave their fans an ideal final home performance to remember in last weekend’s 3-1 win over Milan. The Vesuviani are eighth and President Aurelio De Laurentiis has made it clear that he won’t enter the Intertoto Cup, but there is the faintest chance of UEFA Cup ingress through the back door as Udinese struggle to get a UEFA license. Edy Reja will want his side to finish strongly in any case, but the Partenopei have been awful away from home with 11 defeats to their name.

Lazio put Napoli out of the Coppa Italia earlier in the season and the two sides drew 2-2 back in January’s League clash. Napoli’s midfield ace Marek Hamsik scored a brace that day, including a last-minute equaliser, but he won’t repeat that feat because he is suspended.

The hosts remain short-staffed due to their full infirmary. Mourad Meghni, Mobido Diakite, Stefan Daniel Radu and Simone Del Nero are all sidelined. Defenders Sebastiano Siviglia and Emilson Cribari have muscular problems but are expected to fight on. Goran Pandev and Lorenzo De Silvestri are suspended.

Aside from Hamsik, Napoli must do without injured pair Marcelo Zalayeta and Erminio Rullo. Matteo Contini is also a doubt after he hurt his knee in last weekend’s game against Milan.

Keep an eye on: Roberto Sosa (Napoli) – The Argentine helped guide Napoli from the depths of Serie C and after four years will be determined to mark his farewell game with a goal.

Last season: Not played

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

Lazio (probable): Ballotta; Zauri, Siviglia, Cribari, Kolarov; Mudingayi, Ledesma, Mutarelli, Mauri; Bianchi, Rocchi

Napoli (probable): Navarro; Cannavaro, Contini, Domizzi; Mannini, Pazienza, Gargano, Blasi, Savini; Sosa, Lavezzi

Ref: To follow...

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