MD3:Lazio - Empoli [15-09-07]

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 3 - 15/9/07 (19.30 UK)
Lazio - Empoli

Stadio Olimpico

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Both teams will be looking for their first seasonal victory when they meet at the Stadio Olimpico in Week 3. But while Empoli have continually been defeated this year, Lazio have collected two draws and are starting the tie as favourites.

The Tuscans will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s encounter when they were hammered 3-1 in the capital. However, at the end of the last term both teams over-achieved with Lazio reaching a Champions League spot and Empoli gaining qualification to the UEFA Cup.

The Biancocelesti have been in good shape so far this season, earning a Champions League group place after a tough qualification round against Dinamo Bucharest. Coach Delio Rossi is now aiming to impress in the League too.

Serie A’s oldest active player Marco Ballotta should take the gloves as newly signed Nestor Muslera isn’t ready for his debut just yet. With Guglielmo Stendardo, Sebastiano Siviglia and Modibo Diakhite all injured Argentine full-back Lionel Scaloni will have to play once again in the centre.

Tireless midfielders Gaby Mudingayi and Massimo Mutarelli will be reconfirmed in the middle with Christian Manfredini sitting on the bench. Stefano Mauri is not 100 per cent fit so Simone Del Nero could be the Trequartista behind Goran Pandev and Tommaso Rocchi.

Empoli tactician Luigi Cagni is set to name an unchanged line-up for the away trip, maintaining his favourite 4-4-1-1 formation. However, Juventus owned Claudio Marchisio could be a last minute selection in place of Davide Moro. The talented youngster Sebastian Giovinco is likely to start from the bench, but he could play an important role during the second half of the game.

Keep an eye on: Tommaso Rocchi (Lazio) – The 29-year-old has scored one goal so far this season and will be keen to show his former team how he has become a vital part of the Biancocelesti attacking package.

Last season: Lazio 3-1 Empoli

Form guide: Lazio (- - - D D) Empoli (- - - L L)


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Lazio (probable): Ballotta; Behrami, Scaloni, Cribari, Zauri; Mudingayi, Ledesma, Mutarelli; Del Nero; Rocchi, Pandev

Empoli (probable): Balli; Raggi, Marzoratti, Adani; Tosto, Buscè, Giacomazzi, Moro, Antonini; Vannucchi; Saudati

Ref: To follow...

tattering start for lazio wth all kind of problems.will be a hard game as empoli will play a very tight game and might sprung a few surprises at lazio.

[dukeofdavinci]

Rossi wants home advantage Saturday 15 September, 2007

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Lazio face an injury crisis ahead of two crucial games with Empoli and Olympiakos, but Delio Rossi is determined to end his Olimpico taboo.

The Biancocelesti have not won on home turf yet this season, having been held to draws by Dinamo Bucharest and Torino.


“The day when we drew 2-2 with Torino, our minds were not really on that match, as we were going to gamble with everything in Bucharest a few days later,” confessed the Coach, referring to that Champions League qualifier.


“That is not the situation now. We have to focus on this game and getting the points, otherwise we will struggle wherever we go.”


There are other problems to contend with, as Rossi has precious little opportunity to rest stars for Europe when he is facing an injury crisis.


Lazio are without Mobido Diakhite, Fabio Firmani, Stefano Mauri and Sebastiano Siviglia, while Guglielmo Stendardo and Emilson Cribari grit their teeth to play.


Valon Behrami again takes the right-back role to fill in the gaps, while Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera is to receive his Serie A debut against Empoli.


“Behrami can play anywhere, as he is an eclectic figure. I see him more as a right-back in our system, but the important thing is that he is there to help us out.”


The Press Conference turned sour when journalists asked about the shot-stopper’s role in 2008, when Juan Pablo Carrizo is expected to finally complete his transfer.


“Everyone keeps talking about January, but right now this is our squad and Muslera is our goalkeeper,” snapped Rossi.


“Carrizo is in Argentina and I have never seen him. If Lazio chose Muslera, it is because he has quality.”


Carrizo was all set to make the move this summer, but it collapsed at the last minute when there were delays in securing his EC passport.


Muslera is only 21 years old, but he is pushing veteran Marco Ballotta – who is 43 and the oldest player ever to appear in Serie A – on to the bench for this match.


“Ballotta gives real guarantees and is very cool-headed. I will decide who plays based on the situation as it comes, but I will have to draw up some kind of hierarchy.”

home advantage comes to play, lets see what they can do.

[dukeofdavinci]

ROME, September 15 (Serie A) - Lazio and Empoli took a point each from a dour goalless draw in Rome on Saturday night.

Two teams who seemed to have their respective impending European outings on their minds did little more than turn up at the Olympic Stadium in a game largely devoid of chances at either end.

With Lazio's return to the Champions League and Empoli's debut in the UEFA Cup on the agenda next week, it appeared that minds of players on both sides were distracted by their forthcoming continental assignments.

Even the supporters seemed to have been sidetracked by their pending away days.

A banner displaying the Lazio fans' 'pride' in president Claudio Lotito for leading them into the Champions League was unveiled before kick-off.

This 90 minutes was not going to whet any of the fans' appetites ahead of this week's matches

Neither side were able to create any chances, and Lazio's rookie goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was afforded a quiet debut.

Tommaso Rocchi and Goran Pandev fired Lazio into the Champions League last season, but they were a shadow of their usual selves.

Lazio coach Delio Rossi brought Mourad Meghni on to lift his team at half-time.

But Meghni was unable to supply the creativity the game so badly needed and Rossi was left gesticulating on the sidelines in exasperation at the way his men were performing so poorly.

Empoli coach Luigi Cagni, who worked a minor miracle in qualifying the Tuscany club for the UEFA Cup, was also a frustrated man.

He took only one gamble, inserting the young Sebastian Giovinco in an advanced midfield position with 10 minutes remaining.

The nearest either side came to a goal was when Rocchi missed a chance to give Lazio the lead.

The striker managed to get off a shot on the turn but it was saved easily by Daniele Balli in the Empoli goal.

Empoli had a half-hearted claim for a penalty turned down when Luca Saudati thought himself impeded by Guglielmo Stendardo, but referee Andrea De Marco was unimpressed by his claims.

Given the meagre fare offered up by both teams to their supporters, De Marco's final whistle came as a relief of sorts to the fans.

Empoli's supporters will savour their first appearance in European competition although they will have their work cut out when they play FC Zurich, the reigning Swiss Super League champions.

Lazio are back in the Champions League, the competition they graced with regularity when they were the biggest spending club in the world.

However, the Biancoceleste have had little resources to spend and Rossi will hope he can get more out of his men in Greece against Olympiacos on Tuesday evening.

ended in a stalemate, spoils shared.lazio are really under powered and do not have enough depth.this turn of events will in some point affect them in the cl opener away at greece.