MD2: Lazio - Palermo

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Serie A Week 2 - 17/9/06 (14.00 UK)

Lazio - Palermo
Stadio Olimpico

The neutral fan will be hoping that Palermo can provide as much excitement when they travel to Lazio as they did in the opening round of matches. With both teams evenly matched it could be a classic at the Stadio Olimpico in Week 2.

Lazio’s spirits will not have been dampened too much by their opening day defeat to Milan at the San Siro, as was shown by new captain Massimo Oddo’s confident words after that game. With the World Cup winner driving his teammates on, the Biancocelesti will be fully expecting a win in their first home tie of the 2006-07 season.

The manner in which the players refused to give up against the Rossoneri, and even came close to a late equaliser after going two goals behind, will have Coach Delio Rossi in a positive mood. With a long wait until Week 15 before they have to face another of the Scudetto chasing big three Rossi will be looking to start grinding down their 11-point Calciopoli with a win in this encounter.

The only player missing for Lazio will be Valon Behrami who is out until the end of the year, but Stephen Makinwa may have to settle for a place on the bench again despite coming on to score the team’s only goal against Milan. Palermo also have just one absentee in the form of defender Cesare Bovo who is unlikely to feature for around a month.

Rosanero Coach Francesco Guidolin will be rueing that injury though after he saw his defence concede three times to relegation candidates Reggina in Week 1. Fabrizio Biava may have scored an impressive scorpion-kick in that match, but he will need to keep things tighter at the back if he is to keep the tactician happy, especially with new signings Ciro Capuano, Mattia Cassani and Paolo Dellafiore waiting in the wings.

The four goals scored by the Sicilians against the Amaranto makes for better news, as does the return of last season’s star David Di Michele. If Palermo can keep their attacking flow while tightening up in defence they could well give their hosts an early season headache.

Man on fire: Mark Bresciano (Palermo) – After an excellent World Cup with Australia, Bresciano has wasted no time settling in Sicily. As if a spectacular bicycle-kick goal just 11 minutes into his debut wasn’t enough he then added a second only to see it disallowed.

Last season: Lazio 4-2 Palermo

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

Lazio (probable): Peruzzi; Oddo, Siviglia, Cribari, Zauri; Foggia, Mudingayi, Ledesma, Mauri; Rocchi, Pandev

Palermo (probable): Agliardi; Zaccardo, Biava, Barzagli, Pisano; Diana, Corini, Simplicio; Bresciano, Di Michele; Amauri

Ref: To follow...

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...7/laz-pal.html

[Jager]

Lazio 1 - 2 Palermo
Di Michele 10, 38 (P), Rocchi 73 (L)
Stadio Olimpico

Palermo are on top of the table after another goal-packed encounter at the Stadio Olimpico, but Lazio are in trouble.

This was all set to be a thoroughly entertaining clash in the capital. The Biancocelesti have always been goal machines on home turf, while Palermo squeezed past Reggina 4-3 in last week's opener. The fact that this tie ended 4-2 for Lazio last season was further reason to keep an eye on the Olimpico. Former Rosanero striker Stephen Makinwa was on the bench.

It was Palermo who took a surprise lead with a spectacular goal. Fabio Simplicio intercepted the ball in midfield and threaded through immediately for David Di Michele to spring the offside trap, where he lobbed the goalkeeper.

Christian Manfredini and Cristian Ledesma had long-range efforts, then Stefano Mauri failed to get enough power on the finish at the end of a sweeping team move.

Palermo goalkeeper Federico Agliardi mis-timed his run out on Tommaso Rocchi, but Goran Pandev was unable to take advantage of the error.

Agliardi did well to push a Gaby Mudingayi strike over the bar, then soon after performed another impressive reaction save on Manfredini's header from a Massimo Oddo cross.

However, this left Lazio unbalanced and Palermo struck with an almost identical goal to the first. Roberto Guana threaded through for Di Michele, who again placed a delightful lob over the stranded Angelo Peruzzi.

It could so easily have been 3-0 moments later. Di Michele skipped through defenders and cut across for Fabio Simplicio, only for the ex-Parma man's shot to cannon off the upright.

Manfredini really should've pulled one back for Lazio on the stroke of half-time, but somehow aimed a totally free header wide from a corner kick.

Moments later another set-piece found Manfredini's flicked-on header, which was parried into the path of Pandev and another great save from Agliardi kept Palermo clear in front.

It was turning into a siege on the Palermo goal towards half-time and Agliardi performed nothing short of heroics. He flew to flap out a long-range Mauri strike, then again on Oddo's screamer.

Palermo certainly weren't secure, as they were leading here 2-0 last season only to lose 4-2. Pasquale Foggia and Marco Pisano were introduced, while Pandev saw his turn and shot charged down.

The Sicilians now focused primarily on the counter-attack, Amauri testing Peruzzi's reflexes with a low strike. Lazio weren't nearly as dangerous as they had been in the first half and threw on ex-Palermo hitman Stephen Makinwa, the Nigerian bringing a great save out of Agliardi with his header.

However, Lazio had a spot of luck to get back into the game. Stefano Mauri hooked down a long ball and rolled it across for Tommaso Rocchi, whose finish went between Agliardi's legs. Under the new rules stating that only the team who has conceded can pick the ball out of the net, Makinwa was booked for trying to get play moving again quickly.

It could've been an equaliser on 81 minutes when Oddo placed a perfect cross for Mauri at the back post, but he came sliding in and incredibly turned it wide from six yards.

Stoppages were a tense affair as Agliardi came flying out to close down Stendardo on Makinwa's assist to spring the offside trap.

Lazio: Peruzzi; Oddo, Stendardo, Siviglia, Zauri; Manfredini (Foggia 53), Ledesma (Baronio 80), Mudingayi, Mauri; Rocchi, Pandev (Makinwa 59)

Palermo: Agliardi; Zaccardo, Barzagli, Biava; Diana, Guana, Corini (Parravicini 83), Simplicio, Capuano (Pisano 54); Di Michele (Caracciolo 67), Amauri

Ref: Rizzoli

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...7/laz-pal.html