Serie A' MD12: A.S Roma - Lazio [16-11-08]

[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 12 - 16/11/08 (19.30 UK)
Roma - Lazio

Stadio Olimpico

Roma and Lazio met for the first time on December 8, 1929, at the Cinodromo Rondinella and gave birth to one of the most important fixtures in Italian football, the Derby della Capitale. Sunday’s encounter between the Giallorossi and the Biancocelesti will add another chapter to its illustrious history and looks set to make an already open championship even more thrilling.

For the first time in several years, Lazio actually lead Roma going into the derby. The Biancocelesti currently lie fourth in Serie A and are just two points behind leaders Inter. They have won three on the bounce and are 14 points ahead of the Giallorossi after the opening 11 games of the campaign.

Despite their breathtaking start to the season, Coach Delio Rossi insists that Lazio are still underdogs this weekend.

“We are looking forward to the derby and whoever can hold their nerve will end up winning,” he said. “The League table doesn’t count at all in these games… Nothing has changed since last year and if Roma were favourites two months ago then they should still be today.”

The Biancocelesti faithful will no doubt think otherwise given the terrible form of their rivals. Roma were held at the weekend by a Bologna side coached by former Lazio talisman Sinisa Mihajlovic.

The Giallorossi have lost six times this season and are a single point above the drop zone, but many feel they are starting to turn a corner. Luciano Spalletti’s side beat Champions League runners up Chelsea 3-1 a week ago and would have taken three points away from Bologna if it were not for Cicinho’s last minute own goal, which allowed the Rossoblu to draw level.

Worrying for Spalletti, though, is the fact that Roma are struggling to find the back of the net. They also have the third worst defence in Serie A while Lazio have the best attack. Midfield playmaker David Pizarro is suspended, but Roma expect Francesco Totti and Alexander Doni to be fit in time for kick-off.

Fans will be hoping for a repeat of last season when both games were five-goal thrillers. Roma and Lazio have only suffered one defeat each at the Olimpico in 2008-09. Something surely has to give.

Keep an eye on: Mauro Zarate (Lazio) – Lazio have the best attack in Serie A largely thanks to Zarate who opened the scoring against Siena on Sunday with a free-kick Alessandro Del Piero would have been proud of. All seven of the Argentine’s goals this season have been wonderful and Roma would do well to take note.

Last season: Roma 3-2 Lazio

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

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Roma (probable): Doni; Cassetti, Panucci, Juan, Tonetto; Taddei, De Rossi, Brighi; Perrotta; Totti, Vucinic

Lazio (probable): Carrizo; Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Rozehnal, Radu; Brocchi, Ledesma, Mauri; Pandev, Rocchi, Zarate

Ref: To follow…

the derby.......what can be said then that has alredy been said and that there is alredy there to be seen.3 pts is what we need.just same as other games.

[dukeofdavinci]

the beast has pounced!!!

a very lackluster match as both teams were playing safe for the whole game.

tho im glad we took our chances and got rewarded for it.

[sinoy1]

A win's a win.Thank god Perrotta got a red because I was tired of seeing him play.Even though it seemed like he didnt even touch the defender...

Tough win.I was screaming at the Tv and I think I nearly lost my voice.Lets build on this.

Also is this team selfish in the final third or what?It seems like everyone wants to be the goal scorer....cant they just play like a team and pass their way into the box like always instead of trying too much and f*cking up the end product?

Menez needs more games.He seems very good but he needs to share the ball and stop trying to impress the coach by scoring.You can get on the team without scoring but providing.

[sinoy1]

We really need some players to step it up.Honestly the only people who I saw had heart this game was Mexes Brighi Tonetto (for the first 10 min) and Baptista.Everybody else just seemed to go with the flow.No urgency whatsoever.Which leads me to believe that we have a long way to go before we find our form as a team.Good to see Casetti back.Bad to see him do a bad pass...I think Mexes picked up a knock cause he seemed to be less mobile and going forward after kicking the studs of a Lazio player.

DDR needs to stop trying to do everything and stop doing those chipped through balls.It only worked once for an Aquilani goal .

Totti needs to sit.I dont care how long but dont come into the squad if you're injured.This will ruin the team in the long run.He cant even cross high enough on corners which was really frustrating.

Mirko had an off night.I really expected so much more from him.Maybe he needs to shave again so he can pull off another performance like against Chelsea.

Zarate is top class.I was extremely impressed by how easily he was beating not only Panucci but De Rossi Perrotta Mexes at times.he easily slipped by Brighi.I dont know why we didnt pick him up....

All in all Good win.Good end to end match.Forza roma!

[dukeofdavinci]

Menez needs more games.He seems very good but he needs to share the ball and stop trying to impress the coach by scoring.You can get on the team without scoring but providing.

agreed.instead of rushing in our existing players spalletti needs to play the new players more and more(by new i mean the young ones not the old ones we had bought)

Zarate is top class.I was extremely impressed by how easily he was beating not only Panucci but De Rossi Perrotta Mexes at times.he easily slipped by Brighi.I dont know why we didnt pick him up....

thats what you get when you invest in good players and not in some old man.we need to get the right players, be a bit bold in our deals.look at the donkeys they have debts too but still invested quite well.

[sinoy1]

Zarate is the fantasista we needed desperately.He's right footed bu played on the left side of the trident for lazio.He could have easily shifted to the left forward for us.

Oh well no use in wishing he was with us now