Bari – Lazio

By: cathal | October 25th, 2009

After the heartstopping, last-gasp victory in Rome on Thursday evening, Lazio will have to leave the euphoria behind and pick themselves up again this weekend for the tough trip to Bari. Both sides have been stuttering their way to draws in recent games and a certain Ace Ventura would be willing to settle for another today but with the confidence high in our camp, a certain man with tinted spectacles might be thinking otherwise. This should be a corker.

bari

I made a rather ambitious prediction to a few friends that Parma would easily make the Top 10 this season with Bari hovering there or thereabouts. Not many took me seriously but we know the damage the former did to us so I really see this game as a case of stopping the latter from mustering up something similar. I know I could sound a bit pessimistic now but under different circumstances, I’d shake hands on getting a point from this game. I don’t see the opposition as relegation fodder and I don’t fancy trying to outplay them in that stadium but since we are all on a bit of a high from midweek, let’s give it a bash.

robbo

There has been much speculation about a possible 3-4-3 which looks more like a 5-3-2 and I don’t think it’s a question of if Ballardini switches to it as when. My hunch is that it will be today and with Siviglia missing, the back three automatically becomes Radu, Cribari and Diakite’. Kolarov and Lichtsteiner will provide the width. I think our coach has thought ahead when it comes to the midfield. Baronio is suspended and Mauri and Brocchi were used sparingly against Villarreal so that leads me to believe they will feature today with the suspended-in-Europe, Matuzalem dividing the two in the middle. Zarate will start in attack and although Lalaziosiamonoi have plumped for Rocchi, I am half-thinking Cruz may get the nod. We will have to see on that one. Anyway, here is what I assume we will see:

Lazio (3-5-2): Muslera, Radu, Cribari, Diakite’, Kolarov, Lichtsteiner, Mauri, Matuzalem, Brocchi, Zarate, Rocchi.

ballaronio

As for Bari, I think they have the nucleus of an excellent side. Almiron is beginning to return to his former self and Kutuzov is an ever-present threat nowadays. Luckily for us, Rivas is out of this tie and that should minimise their potency in attack. As for defence, I think they are solid enough there but there are weaknesses we can exploit. In other words, they can give us serious problems if we fail to get our game right but as long as we concentrate on ourselves rather than the opposition, I’m optimistic that we can add a much needed three points to our tally. Forza Lazio!