Serie A' MD36: Lazio - Palermo [04-05-08]

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 36 - 4/5/08 (14.00 UK)

Lazio - Palermo
Stadio Olimpico

Lazio welcome Palermo to the Stadio Olimpico this weekend with neither side having anything but pride to play for.

Aside from their Coppa Italia exploits against Inter, the Biancocelesti may as well have taken their summer holidays early this year as they have simply not been at the races since the 3-2 win over Roma in the Week 29 derby. They have failed to record a victory in the month or so which has followed and were humbled 5-2 by Juventus in their last outing after going 4-0 down before half-time. That match also highlighted the capital club’s problem with discipline as Sebastiano Siviglia was dismissed shortly after getting on the scoresheet.

As a result, the veteran defender will be absent when Palermo come to town. Ousmane Dabo is also on the bad boys’ list so he will be missing again, but Delio Rossi can welcome back two other players from suspension. Luciano Zauri is expected to slot into the defence in place of Siviglia, with Daniel Radu moving to left-back, while Argentine ace Cristian Ledesma is set to return to the line-up in place of Roberto Baronio. With Tommaso Rocchi still injured, expect Stefano Mauri to play just off the attacking duo of Goran Pandev and Rolando Bianchi, with the former needing just one goal to overtake Rocchi in the scorers’ chart.

Palermo Coach Stefano Colantuono is motivating his players by insisting that it is his future as well as their own that they are playing for, yet it didn’t seem to have any effect against his old side Atalanta last weekend as a stalemate ensued. To be fair to the follicly-challenged tactician, he was without several key players through suspension – including star striker Amauri. It is almost certain that the Brazilian ace won’t be at the Stadio Barbera next term, so every goal he nets between now and the end of the campaign will add to his transfer value, which is already estimated at close to £20m.

Unsurprisingly, the ex-Chievo hitman is set for a recall in place of Edison Cavani, who has managed just five strikes this term compared to Amauri’s 13. Mark Bresciano and Leandro Rinaudo are also back from bans, with the former settling for a place on the bench and the latter tipped to replace the suspended Cristian Zaccardo. Giulio Migliaccio is also pushing for a recall and it is thought that Giovanni Tedesco will be the man to make way in the middle of the park.

Since the Rosanero made their long-awaited return to Serie A in 2005 they have held the upper hand in this fixture, picking up three wins to Lazio’s two. However, the last two meetings have undoubtedly gone in the capital club’s favour after they fought back from 2-0 down to salvage a draw earlier this term and routed the Sicilians 3-0 at the Barbera last season.

Keep an eye on: Amauri (Palermo) – Lazio’s defence is looking creaky so the Brazilian will be desperate to make an impression on his many suitors with a world-class display.

Last season: Lazio 1-2 Palermo

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

Lazio (probable): Ballotta; De Silvestri, Cribari, Radu, Zauri; Mudingayi, Ledesma, Mutarelli; Mauri; Pandev, Bianchi

Palermo (probable): Agliardi; Cassani, Rinaudo, Barzagli, Balzaretti; Guana, Migliaccio; Jankovic, Miccoli, Caserta; Amauri

Ref: To follow...

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[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 36 - 4/5/08 (14.00 UK)

Lazio 1 - 2 Palermo
Pandev pen 25 (L), Amauri 82, 92 (P)
Stadio Olimpico

Amauri had a penalty saved, but his late brace of headers turned it around for another embarrassing Lazio defeat.

The two embarrassing defeats on the trot to Catania and Juventus piled the pressure on Delio Rossi, who admitted he was furious with his own players for their lack of commitment. Palermo faced similar accusations earlier in the campaign, but new Coach Stefano Colantuono managed to remotivate them. Sebastiano Siviglia, Ousmane Dabo and Rosanero Cristian Zaccardo were suspended and Tommaso Rocchi, Marco Ballotta and Valon Behrami injured, so goalkeeper Nestor Muslera returned.

Lazio hit the woodwork in the opening 90 seconds, as Igli Tare held up the ball for Christian Manfredini's angled drive to come off the base of the upright.

Federico Agliardi got down quickly to fingertip a Massimo Mutarelli daisy-cutter round the post, but Amauri should have done better when he was clear on goal and only skimmed the target.

Lazio had penalty appeals waved away for a handling offence, but the referee pointed to the spot soon after for Migliaccio's handball. Goran Pandev kept his cool to convert into the near top corner.

Tare should've made it 2-0, but remarkably fired wide when sent clear on goal by Pandev.

There was another handling offence, this time at the other end of the field, for Massimo Mutarelli's block on a Federico Balzaretti cross. Amauri stepped up, but Muslera performed a splendid save to keep out the penalty. It was a morale-boosting moment for the young goalkeeper, who has been considered a flop after a series of howlers.

Palermo tried to get back into it and Mark Bresciano hit the side-netting from a tight angle.

Agliardi needed a great reaction save to deny Pandev when the flick had left Leandro Rinaudo for dead.

Palermo equalised in the closing stages, as Amauri made up for his earlier error by rising to nod in a Fabrizio Miccoli free kick at the back post.

Incredibly, the Rosanero won it in stoppages as Lazio appeared to have gone to sleep. Another Miccoli free kick found Amauri's free glancing header with Muslera stranded.

Lazio: Muslera; Zauri, Cribari, Rozenhal, Kolarov; Manfredini (Del Nero 84), Ledesma (Mudingayi 77), Mutarelli; Meghni (Vignaroli 55); Tare, Pandev

Palermo: Agliardi; Cassani, Rinaudo, Barzagli, Balzaretti; Simplicio (Guana 62), Migliaccio; Jankovic, Miccoli, Bresciano (Cavani 52); Amauri

Ref: Marelli

Missed penalty: Amauri 38 (P)

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