MD4: Lazio - Atalanta

[Jager]

Lazio - Atalanta
Stadio Olimpico

Unbeaten Atalanta travel to the Stadio Olimpico this weekend for a tricky test against Lazio. The Biancocelesti may have started the campaign out of touch, but they picked up their first points in the midweek game against Chievo, while the Oroboci have failed to find the net in their last two matches.

Having been penalised to the tune of 11 points for their role in Calciopoli, this was always going to be a tough campaign for the capital club. Coach Delio Rossi was handed a further blow when flying winger Valon Behrami suffered a serious injury early on and his absence has certainly been felt, while new boys Stephen Makinwa and Cristian Ledesma are still finding their feet.

Despite their early struggles, Rossi is unlikely to make any changes to the side which ran out victorious against the Flying Donkeys. Massimo Mutarelli is on the treatment table alongside Behrami, but there are no other injury worries – leaving the Olimpico outfit with a virtually fully-fit squad to choose from.

Atalanta boss Stefano Colantuono doesn’t quite have the same luxury as his opposite number, with summer buys Nelson Abeijon, Cristiano Doni and Christian Vieri all still struggling with injury. The tactician also learned this week that he will have to make do without Moris Carrozzieri for the next two months after he and Sampdoria’s Francesco Flachi were banned after a betting enquiry.

Considering their problems, it has been a splendid start by the northern outfit. Had Nicola Ventola been able to convert a penalty in the stalemate with Empoli then they would have been proudly sitting in second place. The former Inter hitman is expected to retain his place despite his error from the spot, with the only change to the side likely to come in the shape of ex-Lazio stopper Leonardo Talamonti replacing Carrozzieri.

Man on fire: Alex Calderoni (Atalanta) – The Orobici custodian came into the campaign with just 18 Serie A matches under his belt, but he has kept out Atalanta’s last two opponents.

Last season: Not played

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

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

Atalanta (probable): Calderoni; Ariatti, Talamonti, Rivalta, Bellini; Bombardini, Donati, Migliaccio, Ferreira Pinto; Ventola, Zampagna

Ref: To follow...

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

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Lazio 1 - 0 Atalanta
Siviglia 69 (L)
Stadio Olimpico

Sebastiano Siviglia scored against his former Atalanta teammates for Lazio's second straight win.

Biancocelesti boss Delio Rossi, Luciano Zauri, Sebastiano Siviglia and Stephen Makinwa faced their former club at the Olimpico in what has become a relegation dogfight in the wake of their 11-point Calciopoli penalty. Atalanta were without Cristiano Doni, Christian Vieri and Moris Carrozzieri, who begins a two-month ban for illegal betting.

Nicola Ventola skipped past Guillermo Stendardo, but his angled drive was well held by Marco Ballotta. The goalkeeper was standing in for Angelo Peruzzi, who has a wrist injury.

Riccardo Zampagna nodded a Ventola cross off target, while Pasquale Foggia set up Massimo Oddo for a well-saved finish.

Alex Calderoni performed a desperate double save on 37 minutes. A free kick was floated into the six-yard box, where the Atalanta goalkeeper parried first Stendardo's attempt and then the Tommaso Rocchi follow-up.

Rossi threw on former Atalanta striker Makinwa for the second half and it livened the team up. Rocchi wasted a good opportunity and Stefano Mauri fired over from the edge of the area.

However, Makinwa suffered an injury and limped off eight minutes later to make way for Igli Tare.

Rocchi thought he'd given Lazio the lead, but his long-range strike cannoned off the underside of the bar and bounced back out off the ground without crossing the line.

Calderoni was again crucial with a double save on Oddo's missile of a free kick.

The deadlock was eventually broken from a set-piece. A free kick was touched on by Tare for ex-Atalanta man Sebastiano Siviglia to volley in at the back post.

Loria had the best opportunity to equalise on his return from a long-term injury, but couldn't quite get on the end of the assist to beat Ballotta.

Lazio: Ballotta; Oddo, Stendardo, Siviglia, Zauri; Foggia (Manfredini 72), Mudingayi, Ledesma, Mauri; Pandev (Makinwa 46) (Tare 53), Rocchi

Atalanta: Calderoni; Adriano, Rivalta, Loria, Bellini; Ferreira Pinto (Bombardini 76), Bernardini, Migliaccio, Ariatti (Tissone 81); Zampagna (Defendi 82), Ventola

Ref: Girardi

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