MD6: Lazio - Reggina [9-30-07] 9:00 ET

[LaVecchiaSignora]

Again move if you want

[dukeofdavinci]

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Serie A Week 6 - 30/9/07 (14.00 UK)
Reggina-Lazio

Stadio Granillo

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Reggina will be hoping to pick up their first win of the season when they welcome Lazio to the Stadio Oreste Granillo for a crucial Week 6 clash. It’s hardly been a stroll in the park for the Biancocelesti this term either, as it took them until Wednesday night’s match with Cagliari to pick up their first three points of the campaign.

After battling back from a potentially crippling 11-point Calciopoli penalty last term, the boys from Reggio Calabria stunned Serie A to remain in the Division – yet all that hard work looks like being undone this time round. Massimo Ficcadenti has found it incredibly difficult to follow in Walter Mazzarri’s impressive footsteps, although the tactician wasn’t helped when he lost Rolando Bianchi’s goals to Manchester City in the summer.

At the moment there is far too much pressure on ageing hitman Nicola Amoruso to score, with none of the supporting cast currently looking up to the job. Given that they’ve already conceded 11 goals, with just three netted at the right end of the pitch, it’s not hard to see why Reggina are struggling. Nonetheless, Ficcadenti looks set to keep faith with the same starting XI who performed so well against Juventus in the first half of their Week 5 clash, only to collapse in the second period.

Too many injuries and a lack of summer reinforcements have been Lazio boss Delio Rossi’s major complaints in the early stage of the season, but their win against Cagliari in mid-week could be a sign that the Lazio side who fought for every ball last term is back again. The timing couldn’t be better when you consider that they host Real Madrid in the Champions League next week. However, Rossi will be keen to emphasise to his players that this Serie A clash with Reggina is equally important.

The tactician will once again be without long-term absentees Mobido Diakhite, Fabio Firmani and Sebastiano Siviglia, but Valon Behrami could be handed a starting shirt after missing out last time. The man whose place he is likely to take is Lorenzo Di Silvestri, who was hauled off at half-time against Cagliari. Nestor Muslera is likely to retain his place between the sticks ahead of Marco Ballotta – who is more than double the Uruguayan’s age – despite a couple of shaky performances since coming into the side.

Both sets of fans will be keen to see another attacking spectacle like the 3-2 win for Lazio last term rather than the drab stalemate that took place at the Stadio Olimpico. And Reggina fans might be feeling down about their side’s chances, but they can take heart from the fact that they have had some pretty decent results against the capital club in recent years. Let’s face it, they’ve got to win sooner or later…


Keep an eye on: Tommaso Rocchi (Lazio) – It took him a while, but the ex-Empoli hitman finally got off the mark in Serie A with an impressive brace against Cagliari and he’ll be looking to keep up the trend.

Last season: Reggina 2-3 Lazio

Form guide: Reggina (D D L L L) Lazio (D D D L W)

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[barracuda]

A must win for Lazio, who've had a bad start to the season (similar to Milan). Really with the squad Lazio has this should be a comfortable win at home.

[dukeofdavinci]

Rossi awaits Real Reggina Sunday 30 September, 2007

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Delio Rossi insists his Lazio are not focused on the Real Madrid clash, but that all their attention is on Reggina.

“Our strength has always been that we can think of one game at a time and not in the long-term,” said the Coach.


“As far as I am concerned, every match is a career-breaker. I am far more interested in Reggina right now, even if I know the fans are thinking of Real. We are a team that have to give 500 per cent to do well, without ever holding back.”


The Champions League meeting with Madrid on Wednesday evening is certainly more glamorous than Reggina, but after their dismal start in Serie A this may well be more important.


“The Stadio Granillo is a very difficult place to play and we will be facing a side that is fighting for its survival. We must not be lulled into a false sense of security by the fact they lost 4-0 to Juventus midweek, because they gave them a lot of problems.


“Reggina have changed over the past few months, but they maintained the battling spirit and their old guard.”


Lorenzo De Silvestri will be rested ahead of the Real Madrid match, but others will not get that chance.


“I saw De Silvestri very tired, as he has been used in both competitions. This could be Aleksander Kolarov’s chance to shine, while Emilson Cribari is needed at centre-left because he is the only one who can play there.”

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[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 6 - 30/9/07 (14.00 UK)
Reggina 1 - 1 Lazio
Cozza 8 (R), Kolarov 74 (L)
Stadio Granillo

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A stunning strike from Aleksander Kolarov earned Lazio a barely-deserved point, but Tommaso Rocchi suffered a potentially serious injury.

These two sides impressed last term to overcome Calciopoli penalties, but have stuttered somewhat when starting from scratch. The Amaranto were without a win under top flight debutant Massimo Ficcadenti, while Delio Rossi's men only broke their duck in the 3-1 midweek victory over Cagliari.

With the risk of being distracted by the upcoming Champions League clash with Real Madrid, Lazio were without the injured Mobido Diakhite, Fabio Firmani and Sebastiano Siviglia.

Ciccio Cozza marked his first start of the campaign with a well-taken goal. Cascione put the ball back into the box and Nicola Amoruso carried it on for Cozza's precise right-foot angled drive.

Gaby Mudingayi fired wide from distance, but Lazio only really started to threaten just before half-time, when Christian Manfredini failed to slide in Tommaso Rocchi's cross.

Lazio were playing very badly at the Stadio Granillo and Reggina nearly made it 2-0 when Barreto's shot took a deflection off Cozza to loop into the air and Muslera palmed it on to the bar.

Modesto really should have scored soon after, but he cut back to avoid a defender and fired wide of the near post with his weaker right foot.

Lazio created a goal out of nothing to draw level, as Aleksander Kolarov unleashed a left-foot absolute screamer from over 30 metres that smashed through the Reggina defence and past Campagnolo's outstretched hand. It was a shot of rare force.

There was bad news for Lazio, though, as Rocchi went off with a suspected sprained ankle that could rule him out of the Champions League match with Real Madrid.

Francesco Modesto was sent off in stoppages for dissent.


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Reggina: Campagnolo; Lanzaro, Valdez, Aronica, Modesto; Barreto, Cascione, Hallfredsson; Cozza (Joelson 55), Amoruso, Vigiani (Missiroli 73)

Lazio: Muslera; Behrami, Stendardo, Cribari, Kolarov; Mudingayi, Baronio (Ledesma 62), Mutarelli (Mauri 46); Manfredini; Rocchi (Tare 75), Makinwa

Ref: Tagliavento

Sent off: Modesto 93 (R)

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