Lazio – Palermo

By: cathal | September 27th, 2009

Lazio will welcome the self-proclaimed Scudetto challengers, Palermo to the Olimpico today as both sides bid to get their stuttering seasons up and running yet again. It’s the easy games that we have been losing recently having suffered home defeats to both Red Bull Salzburg and Parma whereas the Sicilians have had to face one of the toughest series of opening fixtures Serie A has ever seen. With neither side sitting where they would want to be on the table, this should be a cracking game.

Our injury woes are crippling us and thus the options for the backline are slim to none. Muslera will keep guard with Cribari and Diakite’ likely to start in front of him with Siviglia out injured. Radu will step in for Kolarov who is serving a two-match ban for his sending off on Wednesday. Lichtsteiner is forced to play at right-back once again with no fit back-ups at our disposal. Should another injury occur, Del Nero will have to be deployed at left-back. Brocchi is still missing so this week’s midfield trio should contain Dabo, Mauri and the much maligned, Baronio. Foggia will probably start as trequartista considering his impressive showings of late. Zarate and Cruz are likely to lead the line in attack once again, however, Rocchi should be fit enough to play his part somewhere in the game. A strong but rather fatigued line-up. This is how it looks in full:

Lazio (4-3-1-2): Muslera, Radu, Cribari, Diakite’, Lichtsteiner, Baronio, Mauri, Dabo, Foggia, Zarate, Cruz.

As for Palermo, we all know how dangerous they can be on their day and I am sure they will come to Rome looking for at least a point. Their defence is solid, their midfield is compact with tasty players such as our transfer target, Simplicio providing the attacking link and their attack is feisty with the talented Miccoli and the in-form Budan not to mention to excellent Cavani on the bench. I think we have the quality to beat them and maybe our fitness levels won’t be much of a factor today with the boys in pink playing a number of difficult matches in a row. I fancy our chances, I just hope we can deliver. Forza Lazio!

Previous Encounter: Palermo 2-0 Lazio (Miccoli, 6, Migliaccio, 87)
Last Season: Lazio 1-0 Palermo (Rocchi, 66)
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