Serie A' MD30: Fiorentina - Lazio [22-03-08]

[dukeofdavinci]

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

Stadio Franchi

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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...

channel4.com - Football Italia

[dukeofdavinci]

Rossi ends Lazio silence Saturday 22 March, 2008

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Delio Rossi has broken his media silence to admit he’s “curious” as to how Lazio will react after winning a dramatic derby.


“In these last two months there has been so much written about us that it would be impossible to respond to them all. So I’ll just leave it behind us and move on,” said the Coach in his first Press conference for many weeks.


“I am still very enthusiastic about this squad, I have a contract for another year and could choose to renew it. I am happy here.”


Rossi’s chances of staying in charge of the Biancocelesti were given a massive boost after the 3-2 victory over title contenders Roma.


“Roma met a team that was stronger than them on the night. They did not lose the derby, but rather we won it.”


Luciano Spalletti had been furious over the refereeing, particularly the penalty for a challenge on Rolando Bianchi.


“It was a penalty. The Roma player hauled mine down. I never cling to incidents as an excuse and would like others to do the same. Our problem this season has been we have never really been able to field the first choice XI.”


Now Lazio have to repeat the trick by taking on another top four team, as they travel to Fiorentina’s Stadio Artemio Franchi.


“I am curious to see how the squad will react after the derby, a game that if you win gave give you so much.


“Fiorentina are a strong side and it’s an important test for us. We must look to the future using Arsenal and Fiorentina as examples to follow – teams built with youth.”


Valon Behrami scored the late winner against Roma, but has not made the trip due to a thigh problem, joining Stefan Radu and Luciano Zauri on the sidelines.

Lazio squad: 22 Artipoli, 32 Ballotta, 9 Bianchi, 25 Cribari, 6 Dabo, 29 De Silvestri, 3 Kolarov, 24 Ledesma, 68 Manfredini, 11 Mauri, 23 Meghni, 26 Mudingayi, 1 Muslera, 5 Mutarelli, 19 Pandev, 7 Rozenhal, 18 Rocchi, 13 Siviglia, 17 Tare, 21 Vignaroli.

i do hope the viola beat the crap shit out of this dirty playing ass holes and give a up yours to delio

[dukeofdavinci]

Prandelli eyes Viola turnaround Saturday 22 March, 2008

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cesare Prandelli hopes Fiorentina will put in a completely different performance to the one at Napoli when Lazio come to town.


“We made many mistakes at the San Paolo and lost our belief over the course of the game,” he said of the midweek 2-0 defeat.


“The absence of Alessandro Gamberini made itself felt, but those who played in his place were up to the task.”


In Prandelli’s mind the solution to facing Lazio is less one of individual figures and more a collective view.


“They are a team capable of spreading out well over the field, they are muscular and mature. We must be concentrated until the 90th minute and make the most of pace and set plays.”

Fiorentina squad: Avramov, Cacia, Da Costa, Dainelli, Donadel, Frey, Gobbi, Jorgensen, Kroldrup, Kuzmanovic, Liverani, Montolivo, Osvaldo, Papa Waigo, Pasqual, Pazzini, Potenza, Santana, Ujfalusi, Vieri.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 30 - 22/3/08 (14.00 UK)
Fiorentina 1 - 0 Lazio
Pazzini 77 (F)
Stadio Franchi

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Giampaolo Pazzini's goal gave Fiorentina a slender victory over a Lazio side that played with 10 men for an hour.

The Biancocelesti were brimming with local pride after Wednesday's sensational 3-2 derby victory, but faced a tough test in Florence. Stefan Radu, Valon Behrami, Luciano Zauri, Simone Del Nero, Fabio Firmani and Mobido Diakhitè were sidelined, so they rested Rolando Bianchi for a return to the 4-3-1-2 system. the Viola needed a boost after their midweek defeat at Napoli, but Sebastien Frey pulled out at the last minute with a stomach bug, making way for Vlada Avramov.

This was one for the neutrals, as it hadn't registered a Serie A draw since a spectacular 3-3 result in April 2000.

Adrian Mutu nodded a corner off target and Christian Vieri drilled a left-foot effort over from distance. Fiorentina's injury problems worsened with Martin Jorgensen lasting just 20 minutes. Mutu's header was too weak to trouble Marco Ballotta.

Lazio's game became an uphill struggle just 37 minutes in when Massimo Mutarelli foolishly received two yellow cards in the space of 120 seconds.

Ballotta beat away a right-foot Mutu drive and Avramov beat away Lorenzo De Silvestri's left-foot attempt.

There was chaos on 55 minutes. Fiorentina had a series of efforts on goal in the space of 10 seconds, but Rozenhal's goalline clearance perhaps with an arm, Giampaolo Pazzini nodded on to the bar from four yards and Mutu's shot was smothered.

Ousmane Dabo performed a crucial tackle on Mutu on the edge of the box, but Avramov marked his second appearance of the season with a magnificent one-handed save on Goran Pandev from point-blank range.

10-man Lazio had another great chance with Pandev's shot bouncing wide, but Fiorentina broke the deadlock on 78 minutes. Fabio Liverani touched across for Pazzini's low right-foot strike from the edge of the box.

Mario Alberto Santana hit the back of the net, but it was disallowed for an offside position, while Ballotta did well to deny Mutu.

Lazio nearly got an equaliser with first Bianchi and then Pandev efforts charged down. It was a very tense finale with Mutu and Cristian Ledesma sparking a brawl.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fiorentina: Avramov; Jorgensen (Potenza 20), Ujfalusi, Kroldrup, Gobbi; Donadel (Kuzmanovic 66), Liverani, Montolivo; Santana, Vieri (Pazzini 55), Mutu

Lazio: Ballotta; De Silvestri, Rozenhal, Siviglia, Kolarov; Dabo (Meghni 70), Ledesma, Mutarelli; Mauri (Mudingayi 46); Rocchi (Bianchi 61), Pandev

Ref: Orsato

Sent off: Mutarelli 37 (L)

they didnt give the shit heads a beating but they sure beat them, feel a bit better now