A.S. LIVORNO CALCIO

[D-Kin]

Chievo won their first league game of the season last week but it'll be tough away to Livorno.

Lucarelli seems to be finding some form as well.

[D-Kin]

Livorno really need a win here otherwise they might not qualify for the next stage, not that their President would mind.

[D-Kin]

Livorno (probable): Amelia, Grandoni, Kuffour, Galante, Balleri, Morrone, Passoni, A. Filippini, Pasquale, Danilevicius, Lucarelli

Maccabi Haifa (probable): Davidovich, Harazi, Keise, Keinan, Olarra, Boccoli, Dirceu, Anderson, Masudi, Katan, Arbeitman

[D-Kin]

It seems Arrigoni will play a strong side, including Lucarelli.

[Jager]

UEFA Cup, Group A - 29/11/06

Livorno 1 - 1 Maccabi Haifa
Lucarelli 17 (L), Colautti 92 (M)
Stadio Picchi

Livorno's UEFA Cup dreams were shattered in stoppages with a 1-1 draw against Maccabi Haifa.

The Amaranto knew they absolutely needed a victory to keep their slim European hopes alive and so Coach Daniele Arrigoni fielded a strong starting 11 rather than the usual squad rotation system adopted for this competition.

Marco Amelia had an early scare when David Balleri miscued his clearance, then Italian-Argentine-Israeli Maccabi man Roberto Colautti was unlucky to thump the upright with a splendid curling strike from the edge of the area.

Cristiano Lucarelli is still looking for his best form after a thigh injury and his header forced a corner. Two minutes later he gave Livorno the lead, capturing a Dario Passoni free kick and smashing it into the net from the penalty spot.

A Sami Kuffour header from another corner kick was also deflected out and Alessandro Grandoni's attempt was off target. Israeli club side Maccabi went close before the break with Bokoli firing just wide.

Tomas Danilevicius was livelier in the second half, setting up a chance for Lucarelli before timid penalty appeals were waved away. The Lithuanian's header was parried and the resulting corner went closer than ever before, as Antonio Filippini's piledriver was deflected off Danilevicius and only a goalline clearance saved Maccabi.

Livorno were piling on the pressure with another Passoni strike pushed away by the goalkeeper.

Ibrahima Bakayoko replaced Danilevicius and had a fantastic opportunity to secure victory when his splendid volley cannoned off the crossbar.

It seemed to be a game in the bag for the Amaranto, but in stoppages it was Colautti who gave Maccabi Haifa a point at the Stadio Picchi. He rose above the crowd to nod in the late equaliser and end Livorno's UEFA Cup adventure.

Livorno: Amelia; Grandoni, Kuffour, Galante; Balleri (Pfertzel 83), Morrone, Passoni, Filippini, Pasquale; Danilevicius (Bakayoko 64), Lucarelli

Maccabi Haifa: Davidovich; Harazi (Meshumar 67), Olarra, Keinan, Keise, Boccoli, Rafaelov (Arbeitman 72), Anderson, Masudi (Melikson 59), Katan, Colautti

Ref: Vink (Hol)

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...s/liv-mac.html

[D-Kin]

Livorno may struggle to qualify now, it's between them and Auxerre.

[D-Kin]

Livorno Coach Daniele Arrigoni was disappointed after the 1-1 draw with Maccabi Haifa in the UEFA Cup, but believes his side can still qualify for the next stage.

The Tuscan minnows were in need of a win after losing 3-2 at home against Rangers before drawing 1-1 at Partizan in the first two Group A ties.

But they were denied a crucial victory on Wednesday by a last-minute goal from Roberto Colautti and must now win against Auxerre to keep their qualifying hopes alive.

“I am not pleased about the draw, but we are not giving up – we will go to France to win,” said Arrigoni.

“Seeing the other result in the group I don’t see why we should not believe that we can still qualify,” added the Coach, referring to Auxerre’s 4-1 win away to Partizan.

“The team did some good things, we tried to increase our lead but we were unable to do so. The fact that we can still progress to the knockout phase gives us strength and motivates us.”

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...ia/nov30d.html

[D-Kin]

Last season: Livorno 0-0 Chievo

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

Livorno (probable): Amelia; Grandoni, Kuffour, Galante; Pasquale, A.Filippini, Morrone, Pfertzel, Vigiani; C.Lucarelli, Bakayoko

Chievo (probable): Sicignano; Malaga, Mandelli, D’Anna, Lanna; Sammarco, Zanchetta, Brighi; Semiolo, Obinna, Pellissier

[D-Kin]

Group A P W D L F A Pts
Rangers 3 2 1 0 7 4 7
Maccabi Haifa 4 2 1 1 5 4 7
Auxerre 3 1 1 1 7 6 4
Livorno 3 0 2 1 4 5 2
Partizan Belgrade 3 0 1 2 2 6 1

Livorno and Auxerre play on December 14th, the winner will go through.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Livorno 0 - 2 Chievo (Obina 71', 78')

[D-Kin]

Not a bad result for Chievo, they're finally starting to pick up some points.

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 14 - 3/12/06 (14.00 UK)
Livorno 0 - 2 Chievo
Obinna 70, 78 (C)
Stadio Picchi

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Victor Obinna netted his fourth goal in two games to inspire Chievo to a second straight win, ending Livorno's unbeaten home record this season.

The Flying Donkeys finally earned their first win of the season last week, but faced a Livorno side fighting for UEFA Cup spots. Dario Passoni was suspended and Franco Semioli recovered from injury.

Victor Obinna bagged a brace last week and was immediately dangerous with a header well saved by Marco Amelia.

The goalkeeper performed another splendid save on Obinna's right-foot strike, as Chievo kept up the pressure. Livorno protested, however, as Lorenzo D'Anna's handling offence went unpunished.

Marc Pfertzel should perhaps have gone for goal rather than try to pass back across the face of the net, as he had the angle to beat Vincenzo Sicignano. The Chievo goalkeeper rushed out to prod a dangerous ball off Ibrahima Bakayoko's foot.

Cristiano Lucarelli failed to make the most of a poor clearance that reached him in the D, then after the break his free kick scared Sicignano.

It was Chievo who took the lead, probably deserved considering the overall play, with Obinna's third goal in two games. Antonio Filippini lost the ball in midfield and the young Nigerian sprinted into the area to place a delicate angled drive past Amelia.

Lucarelli flicked the ball up over the defence for a Jose Luis Vidigal strike straight at the goalkeeper.

Yet an even worse defensive error allowed Obinna to double Chievo's lead. Alessandro Grandoni looked completely lost as the ball bounced in the air, while Amelia came off his line and it was child's play for the striker to lob into an empty net.

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Livorno: Amelia; Grandoni, Kuffour, Knezevic, Pasquale; Pfertzel, Morrone, A Filippini, Vigiani; C Lucarelli, Bakayoko (Danilevicius 74)

Chievo: Sicignano; Malago', Mandelli, D'Anna, Lanna; Sammarco, Kosowski (Marcolini 46), Brighi, Semoli; Cossato (Pellissier 54), Obinna (Tiribocchi 81)

Ref: Tagliavento

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...7/liv-chi.html

[D-Kin]

A draw would see Auxerre go through, Livorno need a win.

[D-Kin]

I can see Lazio winning this with the confidence from the Derby win and the fact that Livorno will be destracted by the mid-week UEFA Cup game.

[Jager]

Lazio have to win this, and they will I figure. They are on a mission, Fiorentina lose aside, they are coming on.