MD5: Lazio-Cagliari 26/9/07 (19.30 UK)

[Jager]

Serie A Week 5 - 26/9/07 (19.30 UK)
Lazio-Cagliari

Stadio Olimpico


Cagliari can heap more misery on Lazio when the two sides meet at the Stadio Olimpico for the first midweek round of the Serie A season. Delio Rossi’s team have endured a frustrating start to the campaign, as they are yet to win in the League and were beaten by Atalanta at the weekend thanks to a stunning last-gasp strike from Riccardo Zampagna.

It’s hard not to feel sorry for the highly-rated tactician, who has had to put up with a ridiculous amount of injuries already this term, while his board let him down in the transfer market. That has left the Biancocelesti short on numbers for their first Champions League campaign in four years, but President Claudio Lotito would argue that it’s quality, not quantity, which makes the difference.

Mobido Diakhite, Fabio Firmani and Sebastiano Siviglia are all long-term absentees, but fortunately there are few other worries in the injury department for Lazio. Massimo Mutarelli is likely to once again miss out on the starting XI despite coming off the bench to net what had looked like a point-saving goal for the capital club at the weekend, while the strike pairing of Goran Pandev and Stephen Makinwa are likely to be given another outing as Rossi seems almost certain to name an unchanged team.

His opposite number Marco Giampaolo appears to be digging himself out of a hole thanks to some decent early-season performances from his Sardinian outfit, as he was among the bookies’ favourites to be the first Coach axed this term. He owes plenty to a man who was wearing the Biancocelesti’s colours not too long ago, as Pasquale Foggia has been playing like a man possessed. Indeed, his form has been so good that Italy boss Roberto Donadoni called him up for the recent European Championship qualifiers.

It seems likely that Giampaolo will follow Rossi’s lead by picking the same players who narrowly lost to Palermo in a game which they dominated for large periods. Skipper Diego Lopez is out of action for at least a month and Joe Bizera is also in the treatment room. The form of Alessandro Matri – scorer of two goals this term – is likely to be enough to ensure fellow young gun Robert Acquafresca remains on the bench.

Lazio last beat Cagliari at the Olimpico eight years ago, although they were victorious last term in Sardinia thanks to goals from Emilson Cribari and Rocchi. This isn’t one for the neutrals though, as three of the last four meetings have finished all square, including a dour stalemate around this time last year. Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself…

Keep an eye on: Pasquale Foggia (Cagliari) – The impressive attacking-midfielder is making a real splash in Sardinia and he’ll be hoping to give the club that still part owns him a first-hand look at what they are missing.

Last season: Lazio 0-0 Cagliari

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


Lazio (probable): Muslera; Behrami, Stendardo, Cribari, Zauri; Mauri, Mudingayi, Ledesma, Manfredini; Pandev, Makinwa

Cagliari (probable): Fortin; Ferri, Canini, Bianco, Del Grosso; Foggia, Conti, Parola, D'Agostino; Larrivey, Matri

Ref: To follow...

channel4.com - Football Italia

[dukeofdavinci]

Rossi baits laid-back Lazio Tuesday 25 September, 2007

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Delio Rossi has asked for his Lazio squad to start thinking like a relegation battler when they take on Cagliari on Wednesday.

“We are not going through a great moment in terms of results, but our problem on Sunday was that we tried to win at all costs and ended up losing,” he said of the 2-1 defeat at Atalanta.


Although that was their first loss of the campaign in all competition, the Biancocelesti have just three points from their opening four Serie A games.


“Our position in the table is disconcerting, as we are in the relegation zone. We do not belong there, but must start playing like one of the provincial clubs who are accustomed to being in that zone, scrapping for every ball. Cagliari are a side who focus on the counter-attack and are very organised.”


Fitness worries have dominated Lazio’s season so far, as along with many injuries the overall physical condition of the squad has been disappointing.


“Our second half in Bergamo was better than the first, which suggests our fitness levels are improving,” insisted Rossi.


“Let us not forget that as well as the negative results, we got two very positive and important ones – the victory in the Champions League preliminary round and the 1-1 draw away to Olympiacos.”


Nonetheless, the pressure is building on Coach Rossi and he needs to turn their Serie A trend around.


“The squad must continue to isolate itself from outside influences, whether good or bad. Last year gave us extra credit which means we now have more responsibility. We have to learn to live with it.”

match build up.

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 5 - 26/9/07 (19.30 UK)
Lazio 3 - 1 Cagliari
Rocchi 48, 83 (L), Pandev 60 (L), Acqufresca 72 (C)
Stadio Olimpico

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Lazio celebrated their first victory of the campaign as Tommaso Rocchi broke his Serie A drought with a brace against Cagliari.

Delio Rossi was feeling the pressure after their first defeat of the campaign at Atalanta, which had been preceded by a less than impressive run of three straight draws. At least the injury crisis was easing with only Mobido Diakhite, Fabio Firmani and Sebastiano Siviglia long-term absentees. Cagliari's inspiration this term has been Pasquale Foggia, who was sold by Lazio in the summer because they didn't believe in his potential - a decision that infuriated Rossi. Diego Lopez and Joe Bizera were sidelined.

Foggia created a fine chance for Alessandro Matri after five minutes, but he scuffed the volley. At the other end Stefano Mauri's low drive was deflected round the post and Marco Fortin did well to smother a Tommaso Rocchi effort.

Matri wasted another promising opportunity created by Foggia, as he came sliding in at the back post and was unable to redirect the cross.

After the restart Lazio took the lead with the first real effort from Tommaso Rocchi. Pandev threaded through for the Italian to spring the offside trap and place an angled drive past Fortin.

Pandev scored a brilliant goal to double their advantage. He had his back to the net, but turned Paolo Bianco for a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, smashing his shot into the roof of the net.

Cagliari got themselves back into the match with a looping header from Under-21 international Robert Acquafresca.

Rocchi put the result beyond doubt late on, as Mauri chipped a pass through the defence for the former Empoli man's low drive.


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Lazio: Muslera; De Silvestri (Behrami 46), Scaloni, Cribari, Zauri; Mudingayi, Ledesma, Mutarelli (Manfredini 81); Mauri; Rocchi, Pandev (Makinwa 76)

Cagliari: Fortin; Ferri, Canini, Bianco, Agostini; Foggia, Conti, Parola (Larrivey 50), Biondini; Acquafresca; D'Agostino (Fini 46), Matri (Acquafresca 65)

Ref: Dondarini

channel4.com - Football Italia

[LaVecchiaSignora]

Lazio boss Delio Rossi was relieved after his side chalked up their first win of the season against Cagliari, but believes it was overdue.

After qualifying for the Champions League last year, the Biancocelesti have suffered a sluggish start this time around.

Rossi’s men looked far from a top-four side as they struggled to three draws and were beaten 2-1 by Atalanta last weekend.

However, the timely return to form of striking star Tommaso Rocchi inspired the capital club to a 3-1 win over Cagliari and eased the Aquile up the table.

“Sooner or later we had to win,” Rossi stated in his post-match Press conference.

“We came close in Bergamo even though we lost, but we are growing as a side and injured players are returning.

“Rocchi scores great goals as he makes so many runs and has such technical ability. We don’t score bad goals.”

One man who didn’t look entirely convincing was new goalkeeper Fernando Musiera, who was brought in at the last minute this summer when the deal for talented Argentine Juan Pablo Carrizo fell through.

“It’s too early to judge Musiera,” Rossi insisted. “A goalkeeper needs five or six games before you can rate him.

“Here is here because we couldn’t sign Carrizo and he is very young, but he is playing a vital role.

"Unlike some of my counterparts I think that a goalkeeper is a third of the defence.”

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[Jager]

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