SS LAZIO            vs CAGLIARI



Form Guide:

Lazio:

L –D - W – W - D

Cagliari:

W - L – D – D – W

Team Top Scorers:

Lazio:

Goran Pandev = 8 goals

Cagliari:

Acquafresca = 7 goals (1 pen)

Last Season:

Lazio-Cagliari 3-1


Serie A Preview: Lazio - Cagliari
What: Serie A, Matchday 20 Who: Lazio (7th place, 31pts) vs Cagliari (11th place, 25pts) When: Sunday 25 January 2009, 15:00 CET Where: Stadio Olimpico, Roma

Eagles Nesting Upon High

Following five positive results, Lazio enter Sunday’s encounter in fine form as they continue on their journey towards a return to Europe. After last week's 1-1 draw with Scudetto hopefuls Juventus, the Biancocelesti closed the first half of the season on 31 points, a club record during the reign of Claudio Lotito.

In every season under current coach Delio Rossi, Lazio have managed to secure more points in the second half of the campaign. Should this trend continue the Capital club look well set to move further up the standings come May. However given the current competition from fellow Euro hopefuls such as Genoa, Napoli and Fiorentina, the Biancocelesti will be aware that it could prove to be by far their toughest run-in for a number of seasons.

With a number of close rivals going head-to-head on Sunday, Lazio will want to capitalise with nothing less than a victory. A positive result in front of the Biancocelesti faithful could not only launch Lazio towards the top spots, but may help increase the gap on arch-rivals Roma, who now sit a sole point behind in the standings.

Delio Rossi is aware that the longer his side keep a positive momentum going the better their chances are come the spring.

Belated Cagliari Continue To Climb

Despite their abysmal start to the campaign, Cagliari have turned their season around in spectacular fashion rising to 11th in the standings. Considering their early season setbacks, their current form is now on par with the Euro chasing sides such as Genoa, Napoli and Lazio. The Isolani can look back to early October when a hard fought stalemate against Milan jump-started their season and gave Allegri’s men a renewed confidence.

Coach Allegri can almost count the early season setbacks as a blessing after having more recently found consistency in his side. With his Cagliari team now sitting a handsome 10 points clear of the drop zone, they can afford to confront each game with a little less tension and look to consolidate their safety as soon as possible. Should their positive run continue, it could prove to be one of their most successful campaigns since the days of Carlo Mazzone.

Following their 2-0 victory over Udinese at the Sant’Elia, Cagliari will be buoyed by their ability to compete with anyone on their day. Whilst an away trip to the capital should prove to be a sterner test, the Isolani have the added incentive of revenge after being demolished 4-1 by the Biancocelesti on the opening day of the campaign.

FORM GUIDE

Lazio

22 January: Lazio 3-1 Torino (Coppa Italia)
18 January: Lazio 1-1 Juventus
11 January: Reggina 2-3 Lazio
22 December: Lazio 1-0 Palermo
14 December: Udinese 3-3 Lazio

Cagliari

18 January: Cagliari 2-0 Udinese
10 January: Inter 1-1 Cagliari   
21 December: Cagliari 1-1 Reggina   
14 December: Roma 3-2 Cagliari
7 December: Cagliari 1-0 Palermo

TEAM NEWS

Lazio

Delio Rossi will be without Ousmane Dabo who picked up his fourth booking last Sunday against Juventus. The good news for the Lazio tactician is the much awaited return of Francelino Matuzalem. The talented Brazilian has been out since late September, but should make the bench after making his recovery.

Probable Starting XI (4-3-3): Carrizo; Radu, Rozehnal, Diakité, Lichtsteiner; Ledesma, Brocchi, Mauri; Zarate, Rocchi, Pandev

Cagliari

Massimiliano Allegri will have to make do without Alessandro Agostini who is nursing a tendon injury. Andrea Cossu will also miss the encounter through suspension after he received his eighth booking last week. The rest of the side remains unchanged from the victory over Udinese.

Probable Starting XI (4-3-1-2): Marchetti; Pisano, Bianco, Lopez, Matheu; Biondini, Fini, Conti; Lazzari; Aquafresca, Jeda

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mauro Zarate vented his fury at Delio Rossi after being substituted last week. The talented Argentine will want to avoid a repeat performance after having apologised to all concerned. On his Serie A debut he managed a brace against the Isolani, and a similar performance on Sunday would surely re-affirm his how vital he is in Lazio’s push towards Europe.

Cagliari stopper Federico Marchetti has been a key figure in Cagliari’s campaign so far after featuring in every single minute played. Despite being his debut season in the top flight, his 22 goals conceded mean that Cagliari currently have the eighth best defence in the league. He will surely want to make amends for the four goals conceded against Lazio in the reverse fixture on the opening day.

PREDICTION

Both sides approach Sunday’s encounter on the back of some fine form so far this year. Given previous meetings at the Stadio Olimpico in recent years it is unlikely that the Isolani have enough to record a win, especially considering Lazio have only lost twice at home so far this season. I predict Lazio to run out winners on Sunday as they continue to chase the European spots.

Lazio 2-0 Cagliari

Stefano Federici, Goal.com

Matu is back ! LoL ! lets hope he gets some time to play at the end of the game .... !  We are gonna win dont worry !

Fiorentina plays Juve and Napoli plays 'merda'. If we get 3 points against Cagliari we could be looking at 5th place!

Forza Lazio!!! 3 Punti!!!!

When I look at the league table, I see that we are behind Genoa with four points. That means we have to win. I think we are strong enough to beat Cagliari and only thing I am worried about, again, is Rossi's preferences. Please GOD, give this man enough brain.

Forza Lazio

The sardinians have proved tough for a few teams considered stronger than us so we can't be careless.  However, we should be able to beat them.
Forza Lazio! 00 06

 

AVANTI RAGAZZI!!!  DAJEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE LAZIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!  

Rossi keeps Lazio under wraps     
Saturday 24 January, 2009
Lazio declaring their ambitions would be "counter-productive", but Delio Rossi aims to pick up all three points against on form Cagliari.

The Biancocelesti are unbeaten in four, have qualified for the Coppa Italia semi-final and grabbed a 1-1 draw with Scudetto chasing Juventus last weekend.

“A team's objectives should not be talked about, but rather achieved with daily work,” said the Coach when asked if Lazio were targeting a place in Europe this season.

“I think we are on the right track, but we must persevere. We have opened up a new era for the club and considering what we have done so far, we are ahead of schedule.

“In any case, as I said, we would be making a mistake if we declared what our targets were this term. It would only be counter-productive.”

Cagliari are in good shape too, having held leaders Inter to a draw and comfortably beaten Udinese in their last two games.

“We are in good physical and mental condition going into this match, but we will need the best Lazio, because Cagliari are a side to be respected.

“They had a difficult start, but are doing very well now and play excellent football. They are humble and have nothing to lose, seeing as they are in a position in the table allowing them to come here and take risks.

“They are very good at all coming back behind the ball and this is why we must play with a high tempo.”

Sebastiano Siviglia is rested, but Francelino Matuzalem returns from a long injury lay-off to at least have a spot on the bench.