Serie A' MD31: Lazio - Inter [29-03-08]

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Serie A Week 31 - 29/3/08 (19.30 UK)
Lazio - Inter

Stadio Olimpico

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Lazio could give city rivals Roma’s title bid a massive boost as current Scudetto front runners Inter travel to the Stadio Olimpico. The Nerazzurri suffered only their second loss of the season against Juventus last weekend, a result which allowed the Giallorossi to close to within four points at the top of the table. The difference would be just a solitary point had Roma not lost the Derby della Capitale last Wednesday.

Inter had looked to be cruising to the title a month ago when they drew 1-1 with their nearest challenger, but since then former Lazio hero Roberto Mancini’s men have gone off the boil. A defeat to Napoli followed just a few days later, while they were embarrassingly dumped out of the Champions League by Liverpool after a couple of lacklustre displays. After drawing with Genoa and slipping up against Juve, the initiative is now with Roma – especially with the calendario being in their favour.

With an injury list including key players such as Esteban Cambiasso, Olivier Dacourt, Walter Samuel and Ivan Cordoba, it is unlikely that Mancio will make too many changes for the trip south. Pele is back in the squad after a one-match ban, but a place on the bench awaits him, with the only changes expected to come in attack. Julio Cruz is definitely absent through suspension, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues to be troubled by a tendon injury so there is every chance that the new strike force of ex-Lazio ace Hernan Crespo and David Suazo will be unleashed.

The 2007-08 campaign has largely been forgettable for Delio Rossi and Co, as they have struggled to hit the same heights as last term when they achieved an excellent third-place finish. Their Champions League campaign ended early despite receiving a decent enough group stage draw – minus Real Madrid – while they have never really got going in the League. However, last week’s victory in the Rome derby at least gave the fans a consolation prize, while the Biancocelesti are also still in the Coppa Italia. Their opponents in the last four? Inter.

So this will be the perfect opportunity for Rossi to size up the Nerazzurri ahead of their Cup encounter later this month. With Inter looking a tad shaky at the back in recent times – goalkeeper Julio Cesar excluded – it is clearly a case of get them while they are down for Lazio, with Rolando Bianchi set to replace Stefano Mauri in order to form an impressive striking trident along with Goran Pandev, formerly of Inter, and Tommaso Rocchi. Elsewhere, Sanchez Cribari is expected to replace January signing David Rozenhal, while the suspended Massimo Mutarelli makes way for Gaby Mudingayi.

Although Inter have a dominant record in recent meetings between the clubs – with their last defeat coming in December 2003 – this is a fixture which will always bring back bad memories for everyone associated with the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza outfit due to the events of May 5, 2002. With the Nerazzurri in a great position to net their first Scudetto since 1989, they twice let the lead slip on their way to a heart-breaking 4-2 defeat which allowed Juventus to sneak in to grab the title. A similar result this time out could prove to be almost as devastating.

Keep an eye on: Hernan Crespo (Inter) – With the Nerazzurri set to be without their two top scorers, the onus will be on the Argentine ace to find the back of the net against his former club.

Last season: Lazio 0-2 Inter

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


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Lazio (probable): Ballotta; De Silvestri, Siviglia, Cribari, Kolarov; Dabo, Ledesma, Mudingayi; Pandev; Rocchi, Bianchi

Inter (probable): Julio Cesar; Maicon, Burdisso, Materazzi, Maxwell; Stankovic, Zanetti, Chivu; Jimenez; Suazo, Crespo

Ref: To follow...

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Serie A Week 31 - 29/3/08 (19.30 UK)
Lazio 1 - 1 Inter
Crespo 11 (I), Rocchi 59 (L)
Stadio Olimpico

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The woodwork twice saved Inter in a 1-1 draw away to Lazio, as Hernan Crespo and Tommaso Rocchi keep the gap at four points.

It was turning into a familiar nightmare for the Nerazzurri, who famously lost the Scudetto on the last day of the season with a 4-2 defeat here on May 5, 2002. Their nine-point lead over Roma was reduced to four going into this weekend and confidence was low after a home loss to Juventus.

Olivier Dacourt, Walter Samuel and Ivan Cordoba were long-term injuries, while Pele returned from a ban and Julio Cruz was suspended. Marco Materazzi was dropped after a poor performance against Juve, while former Lazio stars Hernan Crespo and Dejan Stankovic started. Massimo Mutarelli was sent to the stands following his red card against Fiorentina last week. Curiously, these two teams will meet again in the Coppa Italia.

Lazio got off to a strong start with Cristian Ledesma blasting over and Valon Behrami just failed to get on the end of a Lorenzo De Silvestri cross to the back post.

However, Inter took the lead with their first opportunity after 11 minutes. Douglas Maicon got away down the right and crossed for Crespo's tap-in from six yards. It was Crespo's first Inter start in almost two months.

Emilson Cribari's header was smothered, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic was caught in possession as Ousmane Dabo forced another tough save out of Julio Cesar in the space of 30 seconds.

Nuno Maniche cut in from the left with a central shot comfortably held by Marco Ballotta, then Julio Cesar plucked a De Silvestri effort out of the air. Nicolas Burdisso's header from a Cristian Chivu free kick found Ballotta ready at the back post.

Ibra sprung the offside trap and charged forward on the counter, forcing Ballotta to take two touches to save it with Crespo hovering over the loose ball. At the other end Tommaso Rocchi's first touch let him down clear on goal.

Inter were now playing on the counter and Crespo avoided the offside flag for a shot too weak to really trouble Ballotta. However, Lazio were dominating play and a cracking Dabo screamer was palmed one-handed out from under the crossbar by the brilliant Julio Cesar.

Cribari needed a fine tackle to cut short Maniche's counter inside the box and a Ledesma snapshot was deflected off target by Burdisso. Chivu's sliding tackle on Behrami in the box cut short an important chance, then former Inter reject Goran Pandev dribbled past three players before Burdisso deflected his shot towards safety.

After the restart Ibrahimovic rolled back for Maniche to fire into Ballotta's arms, while another Dabo effort was charged down as Lazio notched up 10 corners without a single reply.

Inter were pinned back and only went forward on the counter, but Ibrahimovic wasted a golden opportunity when he hesitated, not shooting or passing to Crespo, allowing the defence to close him down.

Maicon intercepted a crucial Pandev pass that would have sent Rocchi clear on goal.

Lazio finally got a deserved equaliser just before the hour mark. Rocchi was left totally unmarked and onside by a matter of inches to gather a long Ledesma ball, kept his cool and slid an angled drive past Julio Cesar. The two central defenders were static and slow on this occasion, though the decision was extremely close.

Inter got their first corner a few minutes later and Ibrahimovic nodded off target, but Lazio continued to dominate.

On 64 minutes Julio Cesar performed an absolutely stunning save. Behrami's strike from the D took a deflection to loop into the air and the goalkeeper was at full stretch to fingertip the 'accidental' lob on to the crossbar!

Radu drilled over from 20 metres as it was turning into a siege. Luis Jimenez replaced Maniche and was welcomed by a chorus of insults, as he had walked out on Lazio in the summer by going away on international duty and refusing to return.

Ibrahimovic limped off for David Suazo and Chivu curled a free kick past the near post. The former Roma man also went off injured for Patrick Vieira. Rivas wanted a penalty for a De Silvestri embrace, but the referee waved play on.

A splendid Behrami-Rocchi-Pandev combination was intercepted with the Swiss international running into the box. There was controversy on 80 minutes as Maicon brought down Behrami right on the edge of the area, but the referee waved play on.

Inter were rescued by the bar for the second time as a free kick was rolled across to Dabo for a screamer that clattered the underside of the bar and bounced back off the ground with Julio Cesar rooted to the spot.


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Lazio: Ballotta; De Silvestri (Kolarov 83), Siviglia, Cribari, Radu; Dabo, Ledesma, Behrami; Pandev; Bianchi (Tare 89), Rocchi

Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Rivas, Burdisso, Maxwell; Zanetti, Stankovic, Chivu (Vieira 73), Maniche (Jimenez 66); Ibrahimovic (Suazo 69), Crespo

Ref: Rosetti

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Rossi: We deserved victory Saturday 29 March, 2008

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Delio Rossi is cursing the crossbar for denying Lazio what he deems was a deserved victory against the leaders.


“We got off to a good start, but then conceded a goal on our mistake,” he said of the 1-1 draw with Inter.


“In the second half with a little bit more luck we could easily have won this match.”


Hernan Crespo had put the visitors in front with their first chance of the game, but Tommaso Rocchi equalised on the hour mark.


“Douglas Maicon did well on the Inter goal and it was a fast move, but Valon Behrami should have followed the run.


“I think Rocchi started his goal from an onside position, but then again I am biased! What I can complain about is Cristian Chivu’s foul on Behrami that should have been a penalty.”


Rossi admitted this week he hoped Inter would win the Scudetto and there was talk in the papers that Lazio would not put too much effort in, as a victory today would help rivals Roma close in on the title.


“We are a team who have always gone for the win, home or away, in Italy or Europe. I don’t think it was fair to suggest beforehand we’d hold back, but it’s part of the sport.”


Ousmane Dabo was the second Lazio player to hit the bar and has been welcomed back with open arms after his brief spell at Manchester City.


“Dabo is one of the few who left here without biting the hand that fed them,” added Rossi.


“He considers it an honour to play for Lazio. He also takes a bit of pressure off Cristian Ledesma in midfield on a tactical level.”

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