Serie A' MD8: Livorno - Lazio [21-10-07]

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 8 - 21/10/07 (14.00 UK)
Livorno - Lazio

Stadio Picchi

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Lazio and Livorno meet at the Stadio Picchi hoping for a change in fortune this weekend after picking up just one League victory between them this term. A winless start proved too much for Amaranto President Aldo Spinelli as he showed Nando Orsi the exit, but for how long will Biancocelesti chief Claudio Lotito keep faith in Delio Rossi?

Given that the former Atalanta boss guided the capital boys to a place in the Champions League and led his side to a memorable 2-2 draw in their last European Cup outing against Real Madrid, it is likely that his hot seat won’t reach boiling point anytime soon. Nonetheless, he needs a good run in Serie A to win back the faith of the supporters, especially after being thrashed at home in their last League game against Milan.

Despite seemingly giving his backing to under-fire ‘keeper Nestor Muslera – who has endured something of a nightmare since joining the club at the end of the transfer window – Rossi seems set to recall veteran shot-stopper Marco Ballotta to offer his injury-hit defence more assurances. That doesn’t mean that the backline will remain unchanged though, as Valon Behrami moves to the right-back slot in place of Lorenzo De Silvestri, with Christian Manfredini stepping into the midfield. Stefano Mauri is also pushed further upfield in the week that he was recalled to the Italy squad.

The man to replace Orsi – who, incidentally, once served as Roberto Mancini’s assistant when he was Coach of Lazio – is Giancarlo Camolese, a tactician best remembered for his stint in charge of Torino. The 46-year-old clearly isn’t happy with how things were done under his predecessor as he looks set to make changes aplenty for his first game in charge.

David Balleri’s experience will be missed as he sits out a one-match ban after picking up two yellows against Catania, but his likely replacement Simone Pavan boasts a Serie A CV which is approaching 200 games. Fabio Galante – who played under Camolese at Torino – has even more top-flight appearances to his name and he should come in for the inexperienced Croatian centre-back Dario Knezevic.

That’s not the end of it though. Luis Vidigal, once again a major disappointment after a poor season last time out, is set to be axed so that Emanuele Filippini can join his twin brother Antonio in the midfield. Massimo Loviso is tipped to replace fellow summer arrival Alessandro Diamanti, while Erjon Bogdani’s place alongside Francesco Tavano should go to former Catania striker Fausto Rossini.

Meetings between the sides have been pretty even since Livorno returned to the Italian top flight in 2004, with Lazio just shading the head-to-heads by three wins to the Amaranto’s two, while one game finished level. However, the Biancocelesti have failed to win at the Stadio Picchi in that time.

Keep an eye on: Marco Ballotta (Lazio) – The OAP ‘keeper looks set to be handed the gloves again after Nestor Muslera’s blunders against Milan, but how will he handle the pressure?

Last season: Livorno 1-1 Lazio

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

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Livorno (probable): Amelia; Grandoni, Pavan, Galante, Pasquale; E Filippini, Giannichedda, A Filippini; Loviso; Tavano, Rossini

Lazio (probable): Ballotta; Behrami, Stendardo, Cribari, Zauri; Mudingayi, Mutarelli, Manfredini; Mauri; Rocchi, Pandev

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[D-Kin]

Camolese unveils new Livorno Saturday 20 October, 2007

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Giancarlo Camolese prepares for his debut on the Livorno bench against Lazio, but warns the fans have to forget about the Cristiano Lucarelli era.

The Coach was given the job after Nando Orsi’s dismissal and the side is propping up the Serie A table, prompting some to call for the return of favourite son Lucarelli.

“Lucarelli was my player at Torino. One day he asked me for permission to go to Treviso and watch Livorno play. He said: ‘Coach, the lads need me.’

“Cristiano had a true love affair with Livorno, but today he plays in the Ukraine. We cannot think of his goals to get us out of the bottom spot.”

Their record so far has been disastrous with just six goals scored in seven games and 17 conceded.

“We have Francesco Tavano, who is playing with the right spirit, then Erjon Bogdani, Fausto Rossini and Alessandro Diamanti. I trust in them,” assured Camolese.

“Now Cristiano is only a very special fan. I believe in my players and those reports that I requested Emanuele Calaiò are also false.

“I wanted to take the team to train in Ardenza because I immediately required the confrontation with our fans. In the first few minutes there was an almost surreal silence, but after a few good technical moves the applause returned.”

The Stadio Picchi is set to have a fiery atmosphere, as this is a high-risk game due to the rivalry between the sets of supporters – the far-left Livorno fans and far-right Lazio ultras.

“It is the most political battle in Italian football. Politics is important in everyday life, but the stadium is not the right place to promote your ideologies.”

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[D-Kin]

Ref change for Livorno-Lazio Saturday 20 October, 2007

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The referee for the highly anticipated Livorno-Lazio grudge match has been changed, announced the Lega Calcio.

Massimiliano Saccani had been assigned to the Sunday afternoon encounter at the Stadio Armando Picchi, but pulled out due to a bout of flu.

Instead the authorities have sent Domenico Celi to take over officiating duties in Tuscany.

This is not the first time that Livorno have been involved in a refereeing incident this month.

The Disciplinary Commission deferred two Amaranto directors – Carlo Truccolo and Carlo Vivaldo – for “violating the duties of fair play and probity by requesting information through non-institutional channels on the referee and his assistants assigned for the Livorno-Napoli game on September 26, 2007.”

They are accused of asking around to know who was assigned to the match before the news was made official.

The scandal was uncovered when the official Livorno website posted the name of referee Orsato 24 hours before it was actually announced.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Rossi marks 500 benches Sunday 21 October, 2007

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Lazio boss Delio Rossi celebrates his 500th match as a Coach in a potentially fiery encounter with Livorno.

“First of all I have to thank my wife and children, who allowed me to do this work and supported me all the way,” said the tactician.

“I also thank Peppino Pavone, the former Foggia director of sport who believed in me and saw – I don’t know how – that I could be a good Coach.”

He has since found great success at Lazio, taking the club into the Champions League despite a three-point Calciopoli penalty and the sale of many top stars.

Now he aims to climb back into those positions with a positive result away to Livorno, but this fixture is always overshadowed by the fierce political rivalry between the two sets of fans.

“This has always been a difficult match to prepare for, but it remains only a football game, just as it was when Paolo Di Canio and Cristiano Lucarelli were taking part,” insisted Rossi.

“Livorno are going through a tough time, but they have changed their Coach and in the short term that tends to bring an advantage, so we have to be wary.”

It will be Giancarlo Camolese’s debut on the Amaranto bench after Nando Orsi was sacked last week.

Cristian Ledesma has joined the long list of injuries that Lazio have had to deal with this season.

“I do not believe in bad luck, even if fortune has not been kind to us recently. I have a squad that always wants to play, even at the cost of hiding a slight fitness concern, so that is when some injuries occur. The positive thing is they never hold back.

“Our strength is an ability to always overcome obstacles with sheer heart.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Few minutes left and Lazio looks more close to score the second than Livorno to score a equalise.

[D-Kin]

FT 1-0 to Lazio.

Pandev with the goal.

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 8 - 21/10/07 (14.00 UK)
Livorno 0 - 1 Lazio
Pandev 45 (La)
Stadio Picchi

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Goran Pandev's goal gave Lazio a sorely needed away victory despite going down to 10 men, but it was a dismal debut for Livorno boss Giancarlo Camolese.

This match was very high-risk due to the fierce political rivalry between Livorno's far-left ultras and the far-right Lazio fans. There were more pressing concerns on the pitch, as between them these sides had managed just one Serie A victory all season. That start cost Nando Orsi his job, so Camolese made his debut on the Amaranto bench.

David Balleri sat out a one-match ban, but Luis Vidigal was injured, but former Lazio midfielders Emanuele and Antonio Filippini were left on the bench. Curiously, the Biancocelesti had not won in Livorno since a 3-2 result in February 1939!

Lazio boss Delio Rossi marked the 500th match of his Coaching career. Tommaso Rocchi went close with a couple of early opportunities, then there was a splendid team move with a series of one-touch passes but Goran Pandev's finish was too central to trouble Marco Amelia.

Sebastiano Siviglia had penalty appeals for a tug from Fabio Galante, but already without Cristian Ledesma, Lazio also lost Stefano Mauri to injury. Rocchi hesitated in a good scoring position when combining with Pandev.

Lazio broke the deadlock in first half stoppages. Pandev started the move and finished it, exchanging passes with Rocchi and his low drive from the edge of the area took a decisive deflection off Iranian defender Rahman Rezaei to leave Amelia stranded.

Roberto Baronio's curling free kick was fingertipped out of the top corner by Amelia, but Lazio were forced to play the final 20 minutes with 10 men after Fabio Firmani's second bookable offence in the space of eight minutes.

Livorno tried to fight back, but Pasquale ballooned over the bar with the goal gaping and Marco Ballotta smothered a Nico Pulzetti piledriver. Instead, Amelia had to fingertip a Pandev solo effort round the upright.


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Livorno: Amelia; Grandoni, Galante, Knezevic, Alvarez (Diamante 57), Giannichedda (E Filippini 40), Loviso, Pulzetti, Pasquale, Tavano, Rossini (Bogdani 66)

Lazio: Ballotta; Behrami, Stendardo, Siviglia, Zauri, Firmani, Baronio, Mutarelli, Mauri (Meghni 26) (Manfredini 77), Pandev, Rocchi (Makinwa 83)

Ref: Celi

Sent off: Firmani 69 (La)

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Pandev in great scoring form.

A decent win for Lazio in tough conditions.

[D-Kin]

Spinelli livid at Camolese debut Monday 22 October, 2007

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Livorno are a club in turmoil as President Aldo Spinelli has raged against new boss Giancarlo Camolese following their Lazio reverse.

Camolese took to the Amaranto hot seat just 11 days ago after the dismissal of Fernando Orsi and was charged with the daunting task of rejuvenating the bottom side.

However, his first game was a baptism of fire as the Labronici were beaten 1-0 by rivals Lazio and furious Ultras tried to break into the dressing room to protest.

While Spinelli had stressed his full backing for Camolese, the fiery chief hit out at his new Coach after the game.

“The key players were a real disappointment and I expected the Coach to play a different formation,” he bellowed. “Why would you keep Simone Pavan and Dario Knezevic on the bench?

“It was a shameful performance lacking the necessary spirit. I don’t know what to say and what to think.

“We keep giving away stupid goals and Rahman Rezaei and Marco Amelia committed howlers for their goal. The fans are right to protest, but they have said enough.”

Goal-shy Livorno are clearly missing talismanic striker Cristiano Lucarelli, who left in the summer, but Camolese doesn’t want to discuss the No 99.

“I’m not saying that we wouldn’t need Cristiano and I have great respect for him, but he’s not in the squad,” the ex-Vicenza boss stated.

“In January we will take stock, but we are still waiting to get players back from injury.

“I’ll do everything I can with the strikers we have and we won’t talk about Lucarelli again.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Game highlights:

TalkSoccer Media Player

[robinho]

a tough game that lazio was happy to win