CAGLIARI

[D-Kin]

Yeah, he's a decent player on his day.

I doubt he'll get his chance with Roma though.

[Forza_Roma]

Probably not, Spalletti seems for favour Rosi...hopefully Corvia continues to do well! We'll see what happens

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 23 - 11/2/07 (14.00 UK)

Cagliari 2 - 2 Siena
Corvia 29 (S), Capone 38 (C), Suazo 66 (C), Codrea 82 (S)
Stadio Sant'Elia

Both sides fought back in this entertaining match with some great goals and dramatic twists.

The Stadio Sant'Elia was one of only six stadiums to pass strict new security measures, so the fans were out in force to support them in this bid to avoid dropping back into the relegation zone.

Daniele Conti returned from injury, although Mauro Esposito and Diego Lopez were sidelined. Siena had Tomas Locatelli suspended, but new arrival Massimo Maccarone was ready to step in. Cagliari 'keeper Marco Fortin faced his former club. This fixture had never before ended in a draw in Serie A, with two home wins and as many defeats.

Biondini pounced on a loose ball from a corner kick to drill just past the near post.

It was Siena who broke through on the half-hour mark with their first real scoring opportunity. Daniele Corvia sprang the offside trap and chipped Fortin with the inside of his left foot.

David Suazo went on a trademark solo run that finished over the bar and Cagliari equalised before the break with a perfect free kick from Andrea Capone. It curled mercilessly over the wall and bounced in off the inside of the post with Manninger totally stranded.

That boosted the Sardinians' confidence with Suazo's header and a Pisano cross-shot striking the side-netting.

Corvia brought a tough save out of Fortin when his shot bounced right in front of the goalkeeper.

Cagliari went ahead through their star man Suazo. He ran on to Biondini's through ball, skipped past two defenders and placed an angled drive past Manninger.

The Sardinians could not finish off the game and when the ball was only cleared as far as the edge of the area, Paul Constantin Codrea smashed in a fierce first-time shot.

Cagliari: Fortin; Pisano (Canini 83), Bizera, Pianco, Agostini; Marchini, Conti, Biondini (Colucci 77), Langella; Capone (Penalba 86); Suazo

Siena: Manninger; Bertotto (Negro 78.), Portanova, Rinaudo, Molinaro; Antonini, Codrea, Vergassola; Cozza; Corvia (Brevi 85), Maccarone (Frick 57)

Ref: Bergonzi

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 25 - 25/2/07 (14.00 UK)

Cagliari - Lazio
Stadio Sant'Elia

Lazio and Cagliari have both been moving up the table recently and will want to continue that positive trend when they meet at the Stadio Sant’Elia. The Sardinian stadium is also one of the few that already meets the strictly enforced Legge Pisanu requirements, meaning the teams will be greeted by the welcome sight of their fans in the Curvas.

The Biancocelesti have hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks and shot up the Serie A rankings to within one point of a top four place. They are now attempting to pile the pressure on high-flying Empoli and need another good result here to keep up the momentum. The Aquilotti have now gone four matches without conceding a goal, and the 2-0 win over Torino and 3-0 victory at Palermo show they have plenty of teeth up front too.

Lazio Coach Delio Rossi will have to contend with some important absences though. Top of the list has to be goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi whose injury means veteran Marco Ballotta should take his place between the posts. Nigerian international Stephen Makinwa will also miss out through injury along with revelation Gaby Mudingayi, meaning that Rossi is expected to field an unchanged midfield, including January signing Luis Jimenez.

Cagliari will have to do without some key players when Lazio come to town. Star winger Mauro Esposito, defensive rock Diego Lopez and goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti are all out injured, as well as youngsters Giacomo Garau and Antonino D’Agostino. That means Coach Franco Colomba is expected to continue with his adapted 4-4-2 system, with Andrea Capone and new signing Davide Marchini on the wings, while Antonio Langella should keep his place in a striking role beside David Suazo.

The Rossoblu have gone off the boil slightly in the last few weeks. They had started to put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone with wins over Ascoli and Catania, but their defeat to Inter last week means there is only a six-point safety net remaining.

Man on fire: Goran Pandev (Lazio) – The Macedonian forward scored a brace last week to give Lazio the three points against Torino and his partnership with Tommaso Rocchi keeps going from strength to strength.

Last season: Cagliari 1-1 Lazio

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

Cagliari (probable): Fortin; Ferri, Bizera, Bianco, Agostini; Marchini, Conti, Biondini, Capone; Suazo, Langella

Lazio (probable): Ballotta; Behrami, Siviglia, Cribari, Zauri; Mutarelli, Ledesma, Mauri; Jimenez; Rocchi, Pandev

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Forza_Roma]

It will be a dog fight for that fourth spot. Lazio, Empoli, Milan and Catania are all potiential candidates with Milan most likely to secure the spot. However, with the recent decline of Palermo, one has to wonder if Palermo will fall out of a CL spot, leaving a spot free. Should be interesting.

[D-Kin]

This has the potential to be one of the games of the weekend, I'm looking forward to it.

[Forza_Roma]

Sometimes Lazio can blow a club out of the water..and sometimes it's a stalemate. Hopefully it's a good game.

[Forza_Roma]

1-0 Lazio goal by Gribari 21' min

[Forza_Roma]

2-0 Lazio Goal by Rocchi 34' min

[Forza_Roma]

HT 2-0 Lazio

[Forza_Roma]

Cagliari - Lazio
(0 - 2 )
Final
GOALS:
0-1 21' Gribari
0-2 34' Rocchi
RED CARD 78' Langela

[Forza_Roma]

Lazio continue their good form....

Serie A Week 25 - 25/2/07 (14.00 UK)

Cagliari 0 - 2 Lazio
Cribari 21 (L), Rocchi 34 (L)
Stadio Sant'Elia

Lazio go into fourth place with this comfortable victory at the Stadio Sant'Elia, but Antonio Langella saw red for a shocking tackle.

The Biancocelesti have been on fine form recently and were within a point of fourth place going into this game following four straight clean sheets. They were without Angelo Peruzzi, Stephen Makinwa and Gaby Mudingayi, while Cagliari had Mauro Esposito, Diego Lopez and Antonio Chimenti sidelined. Valon Behrami returned to his usual midfield role after a spell at right-back. The last five Serie A editions of this fixture have ended in a draw.

Simone Pepe's header was off target and David Suazo hit the upright, although it wouldn't have counted as he was offside.

An inspired Stefano Mauri through ball sent Tommaso Rocchi clear, but his finish was far too weak and rolled past the far post.

It was Lazio who took the lead with Emilson Sanchez Cribari's first goal of the season. The defender was allowed a totally free header on Cristian Ledesma's free kick from the right.

Rocchi doubled their advantage at the Stadio Sant'Elia with a goal that has become known as the 'Del Piero style' - a right-foot curler from the corner of the area into the top far pinnacle of the net.

Diego Lopez came on for the second half and nodded Andrea Capone's header off target.

Antonio Langella came on, but was sent off 18 minutes later for a shockingly bad tackle on Manuel Belleri. He came sliding in very late and hacked down the defender's leg.

Cagliari: Fortin; Ferri, Bizera (Lopez 46), Bianco, Agostini; Conti, Budel (Langella 60), Biondini; Pepe, Capone (Marchini 68), Suazo

Lazio: Ballotta; Belleri, Siviglia, Cribari, Zauri; Behrami (Firmani 85), Ledesma, Mutarelli; Mauri; Pandev (Jimenez 64), Rocchi (Tare 92)

Ref: Messina

Sent off: Langella 78 (C)

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Lazio keeping their good run going and move into fourth place, it's getting interesting now.

[D-Kin]

Cagliari have confirmed the return of Marco Giampaolo on the club’s bench following the dismissal of Franco Colomba.

President Massimo Cellino decided to replace the tactician after the 2-0 home defeat to Lazio on Sunday that left the side seventh from the bottom, only three points from the relegation zone.

“Cagliari announce that Franco Colomba has been removed from the role of first team Coach,” read an official statement posted on the club’s website.

“The technical guidance of the squad is now handed over to Marco Giampaolo. We wish to thank Colomba for the work done so far,” concluded the note.

Giampaolo had been fired on December 17 after the defeat to Udinese and was replaced by Colomba, who failed to live up to the expectations preceding his arrival.

Giampaolo, a former midfielder, started his Coaching career as assistant to Giovanni Galeone at Pescara, before moving to Giulianova and Teramo.

In 2004 he joined Ascoli, again as an assistant, and led the side to Serie A although he was suspended for two months by the FIGC in 2006 for acting as first team Coach without a valid coaching licence.

Giampaolo was then admitted to the Coverciano coaching course, before signing a contract for Cagliari last June.

A strange twist of fate also occurred in Torino earlier today, as Alberto Zaccheroni was sacked by the Granata and will be replaced by Gianni De Biasi, whom he had actually replaced before the start of the season.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

The goals:

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