MD5: Torino-Lazio

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Torino-Lazio
Stadio Grande Torino

Lazio will be looking for their third straight win as they travel to troubled Torino this weekend and take on their old Coach, Alberto Zaccheroni. Toro have only got two points to their name so far this season and suffered a shock home defeat to Siena in Week 3.

Zac has stated that he is still getting to know the side after his surprise appointment just three days prior to the start of the campaign and Torino fans will hope that now is the time to get the first three points of the season.

The side that picked up a point against Reggina is likely to remain unchanged when they face Lazio. Despite shaky defensive displays, Gianluca Comotto, Ivan Franceschini, Marco Di Loreto and Jacopo Balestri should still form the four-man barrier in front of Christian Abbiati.

The Granata are patiently waiting for their two star midfielders to perform and much depends on them in this game too. Stefano Fiore, facing his former club, and Alessandro Rosina are a pair who could undo any side, but they have both been below par so far this term and consequently the service to the front men has not been good enough.

Lazio should make just one change to their starting XI. Igli Tare looks unlikely to earn his spot despite being one of the major deciding factors in the last game, while Stephen Makinwa is also unavailable after suffering an injury last time out.

Goran Pandev and Tommaso Rocchi will probably carry the fight to Torino and the defence is also likely to remain untouched as they go in search of their third consecutive clean sheet. Angelo Peruzzi should be back between the sticks though after being sidelined by a wrist injury.

Man on fire: Massimo Oddo (Lazio) – Defending and attacking superbly, Oddo scored the winning goal against Chievo and was constantly causing trouble for Atalanta in the last game.

Last season: Not played

Form guide: Torino (D L L D -) Lazio (L L W W -)

Torino (probable): Abbiati; Comotto, Franceschini, Di Loreto, Balestri; Barone, Gallo, De Ascentis, Rosina; Fiore, Stellone

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

Ref: To follow...

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

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Torino 0 - 4 Lazio
Rocchi 48 (L), Oddo pen 55, 68 (L), Mauri 71 (L)
Stadio Grande Torino

Alberto Zaccheroni's past came back to haunt him, as his old club Lazio demolished Torino 4-0 in their own back yard.

Alberto Zaccheroni faced his former club, but he wasn't the only one, as Roberto Muzzi, Stefano Fiore and Giuseppe Pancaro also spent time with the Biancocelesti.

Goran Pandev went on a splendid solo run past a series of Granata shirts, but his cut-back was just past Tommaso Rocchi's reach. Soon after, Rocchi had timid penalty appeals for a nudge from Franceschini and Christian Abbiati punched away a dangerous Massimo Oddo cross.

Marco Ballotta comfortably blocked a Simone Barone header from a corner kick,

Alessandro Rosina got into a good position on Franceschini's assist, but ambitiously tried to flick the ball with the outside of his foot and could only hit the side-netting.

Rocchi's angled drive was fingertipped round the post by an Abbiati at full stretch, then Gaby Mudingayi drilled over from distance.

Lazio seemed to be more dangerous when they pushed forward and took the lead three minutes into the second half. Stefano Mauri ran on to an inspired Cristian Ledesma pass and rolled across for Pandev, but he was cut off. Mudingayi won back the ball and this time Rocchi's shot went in despite Abbiati's attempt at a save. Mauri came sliding in for the final touch, but it had already crossed the line was was therefore Rocchi's goal.

It was almost 2-0 moments later, as Christian Manfredini's pass was cleared by Gianluca Comotto before Pandev could sweep it in.

From the resulting corner kick, Guillermo Stendardo's looping header came off the crossbar.

Torino were under pressure and Rocchi ran at Marco Di Loreto, who went to ground and cut him off. The referee pointed to the spot and Oddo converted the penalty despite Abbiati getting a hand to it.

Ballotta came tearing out to punch away the ball into the path of Barone, but the header towards an empty net was cleared by a defender.

Rocchi sprung the offside trap and cut back for Pandev to drill just past the near post, then Abbiati came sprinting out to slap a smart pass off Pandev's foot in a one-on-one situation.

Lazio made it 3-0 in curious circumstances. A corner kick was only cleared as far as Oddo, whose strike took a decisive deflection to slot past Abbiati at the near post.

Toro fell to pieces and the Biancocelesti ran riot with a fourth. Rocchi sprung the offside trap and brought a great reaction save out of Abbiati with an outstretched leg, but Mauri gathered the loose ball and slammed it into the roof of the net.

It was almost five with Pandev firing over from close range, although Torino had a chance at a consolation goal with Comotto nodding off target from six yards.

Torino: Abbiati; Comotto, Franceschini, Di Loreto, Balestri; Barone, Gallo (Ardito 77), De Ascentis, Rosina (Muzzi 57); Fiore (Ferrarese 74), Stellone

Lazio: Ballotta; Oddo, Siviglia, Stendardo, Zauri; Manfredini, Ledesma, Mudingayi (Baronio 73), Mauri (Belleri 80); Rocchi (Tare 75), Pandev

Ref: Pieri

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