Riise: Roma - Lazio Like Liverpool - Everton
Roma and former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise is looking forward to the big showdown derby against bitter city rivals Lazio this weekend and he believes it will be better than the Merseyside derby between his old side and Everton...
The defender played in many a good game against the Toffees in the Premier League but Roma versus Lazio is different. Riise can't wait to play in his first Italian derby and he is hoping for a win.

"I have heard that the game will be like Liverpool - Everton if not better, the atmosphere will be electric and we want to do very well," Riise told Asroma.no.

"I played many derbies in Liverpool and I am anxious to play Lazio. I am hoping we continue to do as we did against Chelsea."

Riise also had some words on coach Luciano Spalletti who has been under the microscope of late.

"I have a great relationship with the coach and I am delighted he chose me," added the stopper.

"I still can't speak Italian too well but I am having lessons every week and I hope I learn quickly."

The Giallorossi are just one point above the relegation zone and anything less than a win could see them slip into the mire.

11/11/2008 01:30
Lotito Tells Lazio "Carpe Diem"
Lazio president Claudio Lotito has bellowed a "carpe diem" war-cry to his players ahead of the Derby Della Capitale against Roma.
  Lazio have been enjoying a successful Serie A season so far, taking 22 points from their opening 11 matches and finding themself just two points behind leaders Inter Milan.

The same cannot be said for Roma's start to the campaign, as the Giallorossi have just eight points to show in Serie A and have not looked in good form at all this season. Thus, Lazio president Claudio Lotito is understandably confident ahead of the derby with their eternal city enemies this weekend.

"Carpe Diem, we must continue this good moment," he told Sportitalia, meaning he wants his side to "seize the day".

Despite Roma's crisis, Lotito is not counting them out completely, but he trusts his team can do well at the the Stadio Olimpico encounter.

"We should not trust the mini-crisis of the Giallorossi," he revaled. "I dont put any limits (on the team) and I am sure we can show our value."

The Rome derby takes place on Sunday November 16 at 2030 CET.

11/11/2008 11:26
Serie A Team Of The Week: Round 11
Goal.com looks at the players who deserve their place in the sun following the round 11 Serie A calendar...BEST XI

Formation: 4-3-3

Goalkeeper

Juan Pablo Carrizo (Lazio): Lazio may have won their game 3-0 against Siena at the Stadio Olimpico, but they certainly would have fallen behind had it not been for Carrizo. The Argentine made one particularly outstanding save from Abdel Ghezzal.Defence

Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio): Lichtsteiner only joined Lazio in the summer from Lille, but he has already become a huge fan favourite with the capital club’s supporters for his grit, determination and tough tackling, qualities he displayed against Siena. Also assisted Tommaso Rocchi’s second goal.Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus): The rock of the Juventus defence during the win in Madrid in midweek, Chiellini ensured the Bianconeri had another shutout in Verona against Chievo. Colossal.

Walter Samuel (Inter): The 30-year-old is working his way back to fitness after almost a year on the sidelines, but it didn’t show during Inter’s last-gasp 1-0 win over Udinese. Samuel earned special praise from coach Jose Mourinho for his individual performance.

Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina): Seemed to be on his way out of the Stadio Franch not so long ago, but Pasqual has now started to prove his worth again. The left back was excellent both defensively and offensively during Fiorentina’s 2-1 win over Atalanta.

Midfield

Felipe Melo (Fiorentina): The Brazilian has had a superb start to his Serie A career since joining the Viola in the summer from Almeria. On Sunday afternoon he broke the deadlock at the Stadio Franchi with a fierce 25-yard drive into the bottom corner, and went on to dominate the midfield.

Rino Gattuso (Milan): Last season it seemed as if Gattuso was on a downward spiral, but in the last month the 30-year-old has had something of a renaissance. He was again Milan’s best player during the 1-1 draw at Lecce, closing down the opposition, diving into tackles, and winning numerous balls.

Daniele Mannini (Napoli): So much is said about Pierpaolo Marino’s inspired signings of the likes of Hamsik, Lavezzi, Gargano and Santacroce that people forget about Mannini, who has also been quite a coup. The 25-year-old again excelled during the Partenopei’s 2-0 win over Sampdoria, where he opened the scoring, and also stopped a certain goal from Daniele Franceschini.

Attack

Diego Milito (Genoa): There were some inspired signings in Serie A this summer, and Milito is certainly one of them. A clinically taken hat-trick took his seasonal tally to nine, making the current Capocannoniere. If that wasn’t enough, the prolific marksman also created a goal for Giuseppe Sculli as Genoa thrashed Reggina 4-0.

Mauro Zarate (Lazio): Another phenomenon this season is Mauro Zarate, who is third in the scorers list after also netting on Sunday. Maurito opened the scoring with an absolutely stunning free kick, curling a dipper over the wall and into the top corner from 25 yards. The Argentine also assisted both of team-mate Tommaso Rocchi’s goals to cap off a brilliant showing.
Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus): The Golden Boy celebrated his 34th birthday in perfect fashion with yet another magnificent free kick goal, his third in the space of a week after he also netted against Roma and Real Madrid. For the third game running he was also the man-of-the-match, playing a key part in the award of the penalty that allowed Vincenzo Iaquinta to double Juve’s advantage over Chievo. Timeless.


..........................Carrizo.............


    Lichtsteiner- ....Chiellini-.... Samuel-.... Pasqual

           Gattuso......- Melo- .....Mannini

            Zarate....- .....Milito- ......Del Piero

If wasn't Carizzo saves with Siena, maybe we will end that match with different result. Bravo Carizzo, after so much doubts now I see he only needs more time BTW he is only 25.
FORZA Carizzo , I hope that match will increase his morale before merda match.

Daje Lazio 02 04

You say the coach has no balls!
But i do not think u have a choice now when it comes to siviglia..........i have known this and have started wishing him well in our games for our own sake.

Lichtsteiner is too good a right back to play him in the middle. Why Radu is not given one of the spots in the middle (though he did have horrible games vs. Lecce and Bologna) ,  why Diakite hasn't ben tried out is rathjer perplexing. You would imagine at some point we'd see Lichtsteiner-Radu-Rozy-Kolarov on the field, at least a try. Then again, this lineup might be too offensive and playing them along side a tridente might be a little wreckless. mah!   

I don't think that Rossi will start with the trident this game, no way it is too attacking. Probably Rocchi will come off from the bench if someone plays badly, you know to let him as second option. I now Zarate would like to deliver the promise but I hope he won't be to much selfish coz this is a club derby after all.


FORZA LAZIO


 00 06

It is definitley a tough decision for Rossi up front.  I dont know if I want to see the tridente...it has not proved to be our most efficient means of offence this year and it might be a recklessly aggressive strategy against reeoma.  At the same time, I dont want Rocchi off the bench in the derby he deserves the start as Pandev probably does, but Zarate is hot and needs to start. I dont know, Im thinking Pandev off the bench if we dont get anything going with Zarate and Rocchi up front.