Next, Lazio face up against Fiorentina which will be a great game to see how we measure up against the team that is almost at par with us financially but has kept a credible reputation in Serie A. They are now without their former mastermind Cesare Prandelli and depending on ex-Lazio star Sinisa Mihajlovic. We all know the difference of what a less experienced coach as we saw with Ballamerda. Something tells me this is an improved Lazio and Fiorentina aren't as strong as they used to be which makes this probably one of the best matches to watch.

Lazio fans are on a high now after a 3-1 victory over bologna at home. But it was a win against a small team AT HOME, nontheless it's somthing to celebrate as victories for Lazio have become a rareity over the last year and hopefully this season is a new chapter.

Fiorentina aren't off to a great start this year tieing their first game against Napoli 1-1 and surprisingly losing to Serie A newcomers Lecce. This might be a sign that the Viola aren't what they used to be.

Yesterday, we've witness that Zarate is still having troubles trying to find the back of the net, while il Capitano, Mauri and the prophet all netted a goal. If Zarate isn't worthy of playing 90 minutes and most importantly score I think we'll surely see the end of him which makes complete sense.

Not sure what Floccari's recovery is like but we definately would benefit having him back for this game.

Hernanes is looking to fit in well creating some chances although i'd like to see him threaten the goal a little more and be more of a team player. Maybe it's a south american thing to hog the ball, but I think Ego needs to be put aside. Nontheless I'm content with him so far.

I'm wondering if we'll see a little more of Cavanda and see Stendardo back in the central defense as our defense was a little shakey against Bologna.

Hopefully we can see this team start the season with a winning streak instead of a losing streak that would cause most lazio fans to lose their hair .. if they have any.

FORZA LAZIO! 

On paper Fiorentina are a superb side, they should have been in the last eight of the CL last year. However, Contain Gilardino and Vargas and we have a chance to win in Florence as without Jovetic and Mutu the creativity in the final third is lacking. However, Mihajlovic has the makings of a very good coach and I wouldnt want to face his wrath if I was a Fiorentina player at the moment. So, I'm expecting a reaction and potentially uncomfortable first 20 minutes. A winable game however.

Say what you want about Fiorentina, but last year they finished one poin ahead of us, and no matter how you slice it - that sucks. Espescially when you have the team they do. They completely collapsed last year after they crashed out of the CL (probably unfairly as many of you have mentioned). They started this season exactly the way they didn't want to (i.e. the way they finished last year minus Jovetic and Mutu). I have to think that they look at this as a game they could do without right now so I agree with Theo, go in and play to win. This team is beatable and at this point I think they're as fragile as crystal.

As an aside, I think Fiorentina are, on the whole, on the way down. By the time Jovetic gets back it may be too late to salvage much from this season.  I would still love to have about half their players but it just doesn't seem they've managed to rekindle that form from early last year and the year before that. boh?

this should be a win. Viola are with out some key players as has been mentioned. as for our injures Floccari could return, Garrido will not. Floccari's return could be decisive. with out him our forward situation is a bit sketchy. as down as I am on Zarate, he should still see time as a sub. the only line up change I could see making would be Brocchi, and of course not starting zarate. for Brocchi, maybe Bresciano or Matuzalém. for zarate, Kozak to start if Floccari's not back.

Garrido participated in the formation training today. Floccari did not. In the absence of Floccari I also prefer Kozak as a starter and Zarate as a sub. If Brocchi does not recover then Bresciano should start. If we continue with 4-3-1-2, that is.

Garrido will likely be on the bench against Milan in the midweek and then start against Chievo. Forza Javier!

Reja surprised everyone today with a 4-3-2-1 with Bresciano in. Also he tested the idea of Mauri and Hernanes supporting Rocchi (Zarate on the bench).


....D'Agostino looks like he's out.

From Football Italia:

Fiorentina-Lazio
Stadio Artemio Franchi
      

Fiorentina are already in crisis, leaving Sinisa Mihajlovic under pressure ahead of this weekend's match against former club Lazio.

The Viola are on a terrible winless streak in the League and the lack of results has been compounded by the fact that they aren't playing good football either.

Mihajlovic saw his side lose 1-0 away to newly promoted Lecce on Sunday. La Gazzetta dello Sport's match report was given the headline: “How ugly is this Fiorentina.”

However, given the fact Mihajlovic was without such key players as Stevan Jovetic, Juan Manuel Vargas, Alessandro Gamberini and of course Adrian Mutu, it wasn't entirely surprising.

Mihajlovic would claim that his side had a perfectly valid goal chalked off when Per Kroldrup was ruled to have been offside when he put in a cross from Gaetano D'Agostino.

Of more concern to the Serb will be the lack of concentration Riccardo Montolivo showed in defending a set-piece, which led to Lecce's goal.

Montolivo is still embroiled in a contract stand-off with the club, which perhaps meant he has taken his eye of the ball.

Meanwhile Lazio got off the mark at the weekend with a 3-1 win over Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Biancocelesti are very inconsistent. It's fair to say they have played well every other half so far this season rather than over an entire game.

That much was clear in Reja's treatment of the frustrating Mauro Zarate who was selfish once again and ended up being pulled at half-time.

His replacement Libor Kozak completely changed the game, earning the penalty, which allowed Lazio to make it 3-1 and win comfortably.

Keep an eye on: Hernanes (Lazio) - Known as the Prophet, Hernanes is the player around which Edy Reja is building his team and why not following his high profile move from Brazilian side Sao Paulo this summer.

Form guide: Fiorentina (- - - L D) Lazio (- - - W L)

Last season: Fiorentina 0-0 Lazio

Top tip: Tommaso Rocchi has been frequently linked with Fiorentina in the past. However, the Lazio captain used to play for local rivals Empoli, so this could be a personal derby for him.

Stat fact: Fiorentina haven't won in their last nine matches in Serie A.
Fiorentina (probable): Frey; De Silvestri, Kroldrup, Gamberini, Pasqual; Montolivo, Zanetti; Cerci, Ljajic, Vargas; Gilardino

Lazio (probable): Muslera; Lichtsteiner, Biava, Dias, Radu; Gonzalez, Ledesma, Matuzalem; Mauri, Hernanes; Rocchi

Interesting twist: 4-4-1-1

                            Muslera
           Lichtsteiner, Biava, Dias, Radu
        Bresciano, Ledesma, Matuzalem Mauri
                         Hernanes
                                Rocchi

Reja says he wants to shut down the Fiorentina wings because that's where they're strongest.