Serie A' MD34: Lazio - Catania [20-04-08]

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 34 - 20/4/08 (14.00 UK)

Catania - Lazio
Stadio Massimino

It should be a tense and entertaining clash between Catania and Lazio at the Stadio Angelo Massimino in Week 34. After a disappointing derby defeat against Palermo, the Rossoblu need some vital points in order to avoid relegation while the Biancocelesti may be short of motivation.

Catania currently sit 15th in the table, two points ahead of Reggina and Empoli which means they cannot afford anymore slip-ups. The arrival of new boss Walter Zenga has had a positive effect on the team so far, but survival is still at stake. “Sometimes certain situations can penalise you,” said the former Nazionale veteran. “We proved all our strength against Palermo and were unfortunate to lose.”

Meanwhile, Lazio hold a mid-table position and their only ambition is to end the season with style. They were held 1-1 by Siena last weekend, but President Claudio Lotito was happy with his team’s display. “Perhaps we could have stayed focused until the end, but overall we were competitive.”

The Biancocelesti have collected three consecutive draws and will be hoping to bag their first win in Catania since 1961. Last year’s encounter at the Massimino ended 3-1 in favour of the locals. The Sicilians and the Laziali will also be playing in the first leg of the Italian Cup semi-finals this week facing Roma and Inter respectively.

The Rossoblu used to line up with a 4-3-3 formation but with Zenga they have switched to a more effective 4-4-2 formation. Andrea Sottil will be missing in defence and should be replaced by Christian Terlizzi. Explosive full-back Juan Vargas will start from midfield. Mariano Izco should also be included in the starting XI. In attack it looks like Giuseppe Mascara next to ‘Il Gabbiano’ Gionatha Spinesi. Jorge Martinez will have to sit on the bench while Japanese starlet Takayuki Morimoto has recovered from injury but is not ready for action yet.

Lazio boss Delio Rossi is trying to give space to all of his players so there could be several surprises in the starting line-up. Fernando Muslera should start in goal despite his awful performance against Siena. Sebastiano Siviglia is suspended so former Newcastle man David Rozenhal may play in defence. Stefano Mauri will be the Trequartista behind Rolando Bianchi and one out of Tommaso Rocchi and Goran Pandev.

Keep an eye on: Giuseppe Mascara (Catania) – ‘Topolinick’ has been poor so far this season, scoring only four goals in 30 appearances, and Catania desperately need his help.

Last season: Catania 3-1 Lazio

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

Catania (probable): Polito; Sardo, Terlizzi, Stovini, Sabato; Izco, Gia.Tedesco, Edusei, Vargas; Mascara, Spinesi

Lazio (probable): Muslera; Zauri, Rozenhal, Cribari, Radu; Mudingay, Ledesma, Mutarelli; Mauri; Bianchi, Rocchi

Ref: To follow..

channel4.com - Football Italia

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 34 - 20/4/08 (14.00 UK)

Catania 1 - 0 Lazio
Spinesi pen 34 (C)
Stadio Massimino

Gionatha Spinesi's penalty proved enough to defeat nine-man Lazio and keep Catania's hopes of survival on track.

The Elefantini were desperate for points, sitting just two ahead of Reggina and Empoli going into this weekend, but were missing the injured Inacio Pia' and Cristian Terlizzi. Lazio had drawn three on the trot and not won in Catania since 1961. Curiously, both these teams played the Coppa Italia semi-finals this week, Lazio holding Inter 0-0 and the Sicilians losing 1-0 at Roma. Sebastiano Siviglia's ban added to absentees Valon Behrami, Simone Del Nero and Mobido Diakhite'.

43-year-old Marco Ballotta returned between the posts after Nestor Muslera's howlers sent the Uruguayan packing. The 'old' boy didn't exactly settle in well either, as in the opening two minutes he was surprised by a Gennaro Sardo strike on to the crossbar. Moments later Catania hit the woodwork again with Giacomo Tedesco's rocket from 20 metres.

Giuseppe Mascara blasted a Vargas pass over the bar with the inside of his right foot, as it was all Catania early on.

Mourad Meghni had Lazio's only opportunity, placing the angled drive with the inside of his right foot wide of the target.

Ballotta was more reliable with a stunning save on Tedesco, who had got on the end of Mascara's free kick. Izco drilled over from the resulting corner kick.

Luciano Zauri saw red for bringing down Mascara in a clear scoring opportunity and the penalty was inevitable. Gionatha Spinesi buried the spot-kick beneath Ballotta's body for his seventh goal of the season. It was Lazio's 10th red card of the season - more than any other side.

Ballotta rushed out to close down Spinesi's counter, but Lazio went down to nine men. Ousmane Dabo was booked for a tackle on Tedesco and took his protests too far, earning a second yellow card.

Spinesi wasted the opportunity to double their lead and, as tiredness set in, nine-man Lazio began to push forward with Goran Pandev going close.

Catania: Polito; Sardo, Silvestre, Stovini, Sabato; Izco, Biagianti, Tedesco (Baiocco 71); Mascara (Colucci 76), Vargas, Spinesi (Martinez 84)

Lazio: Ballotta; Zauri, Cribari, Rozenhal, Kolarov; Ledesma, Mutarelli, Dabo; Meghni (De Silvestri 46); Bianchi (Pandev 52), Rocchi (Tare 78)

Ref: Celi

Sent off: Zauri 33 (L), Dabo 59 (L)

channel4.com - Football Italia