Lazio – Sampdoria
By: cathal | October 18th, 2009We’re back in business. After a ridiculously quiet couple of weeks, Serie A returned last night with a bang and today, we are left with another mouthwatering encounter as this newly refreshed Lazio side welcome a similarly rejuvenated Samp to the Olimpico. I’m massively optimistic about this one and will be bouncing off walls until kick-off.
We may be sitting in that rather familiar area known as mid-table but a two week break should do us the world of good. For the opposition, it couldn’t have come at a worse time; they were up there with the best of them and that momentum has now been broken. That gives us something to be hopeful about, well, that and the fact we did serious damage to them on home soil last season. Inevitably, this is being billed as a Cassano/Zarate rematch but we have another ten men to consider. Namely, Muslera in goal, Kolarov and Lichtsteiner out wide flanking Siviglia and Diakite’ presumably, with fit again, Brocchi lining up alongside the mercurial Baronio and the now ever-present Mauri. Matuzalem as trequartista is probable and on form alone, I expect Rocchi to get the nod ahead of Cruz. We are truly guessing now as this is probably the first time since the Supercoppa where everyone has been fit and eligible and we will see today what Ballardini’s philosophy is at present. Here is the team in full:
Lazio (4-3-1-2): Muslera, Kolarov, Siviglia, Diakite’, Lichtsteiner, Baronio, Mauri, Brocchi, Matuzalem, Zarate, Rocchi.
As for Samp, I only ever worry about three players and I am sure it’s the same for everyone. Palombo truly holds that team together and we need to hope we either break his legs or he has a rare off-day and then in attack, we have to worry about Cassano and Pazzini. I still think they lack consistency as a duo but they are more than capable of killing us too so we will have to be vigilant and mark them out of it as much as possible. That is easier said than done with our defense but I believe we will do a sufficient job. On paper, this looks like draw fodder but I can’t see us losing this one and I genuinely think we could give them a lesson to remember today. We just have to keep focused. Forza Lazio!
Previous Encounter: COPPA ITALIA FINAL!!!
Last Season: Lazio 2-0 Sampdoria (Zarate, 7, Pandev, 71)
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Category: Previews
Tags: Ballardini, Baronio, Brocchi, Cassano, Cruz, Diakite, Kolarov, Lichtsteiner, Matuzalem, Mauri, Muslera, Palombo, Pazzini, Previews, Rocchi, Sampdoria, Serie A, Siviglia, ZarateSubscribe
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Comments | Add your comment
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excelent goal by matuzalem. good finish. and cassano hand balled before he scored there!
Posted from
Ireland
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What a terrible refereeing performance! Both red cards should not have been given as in both tackles the players got the ball first! Baronio’s was especially ridiculous! And then Sampdoria should have had a clear penalty at the end; Diakhite runs straight past the ball and just barges into Ziegler in the box!!! Not only is it a clear foul, it’s fucking nuts that any player would do something like that in their own box!!!
Just terrible refereeing by Orsato! Unfortunately this is becoming all too regular an occurrence in Italy.
Posted from
United States -
Baronio’s was definitely ridiculous; mass overreaction from Cassano. Studs may have been showing but Antonio ran into them and bought it I’m afraid.
As for Paladino, it was a bit rash and although he clipped the ball, that’s a booking for most referees.
A strange game, one we should and could have won. Review later.
Posted from
Ireland -
We need help….and a boost of confidence!!
1: zarate is playing at 50% of his form from last year. he seems to miss that little extra spark that made the difference from one yera ago. I do not know if he misses pandev or has not played much with rocchi to get into a rythem but it is in need of attention.
2: Midfield is mediocre. Dabo is starting to show his age. Brocchi is a warrior and Baronio deserves lots of credit so far this year but we need more magic in the midfield to combine with the grit we have there.
3: Defense is still our achille’s heal and will continue to be for some time. I like that we are playing Diakite as he is gaining valuable on the job training. I just hope his ridiculous plays, like in the last minute against Sampdoria where he thought he was playing rugby, dont hurt us.
4: Muslera is improving wevery game and starting to show that he can be a top world class keeper. We better lock him up soon or else….
5: Ballardini’s shine is starting to tarnsih. I thought he had more ingenuity and eye for the game than Rossi but with his latest field selections, I am beginning to wonder.Overall we need to get more clinical in front of goal. We tend to create so many chances that we are ‘nonchalont’ when we miss equally as many. We would be well up the table if we could just bag a fair number of our chances (I am not looking at scoring everyone) and we would also be in far better shape in Europa league if we knew how to close out our opponents. These are the marks of a good team and something I hope Ballardini can bring to the squad.
Posted from
Belgium -
Great game.. too bad we didnt manage to keep our cool and grab 3 points today
Posted from
Netherlands -
I was about to rant myself, having only seen the highlights of the game.
But then I read Nnahoj’s comments.
I don’t need to now. I agree.
Omar.Posted from
United States -
Guys, we need to stop being so harsh and critical of Zarate, the kid is only 70% fit. Once he gets back into the swing of things and re-gains his full fitness, I garantee the Zarate show will continue. The most disappointing thing for me at the moment is again – No Foggia!! The man is on fire and is arguably the best and most in form player in our squad at the moment yet Ballardini continues to overlook him. I understand that he may of been saved for our Villareal encounter on Thursday night however a player of his stature and quality should be playing both games. It is clear as day to me the Lazio struggle without his spark and creativity. It is a sin not to play him in a starting role.
Posted from
Australia -
another fucking draw in home
Posted from
United States -
I completely agree with Franco, we need Foggia in the starting line-up, I liked Brocchi but in all honesty I didn’t even really notice him until the second half were he played very well, however fact is he’s still old balls and it shows sometimes, like on his mazy run towards the end where I got up to the egde of my seat as he neared the box an then he just fell, probably cuz his arthritis kicked in an then appealed for the foul when there was obviously none. We need the young talented Foggia spark in the ranks.
Also, we need to get either a video or a picture of Muslera punching the lights out of Pazzini! That had to be the highlight of the game, I watched that part over and over and it never got old.
Posted from
United States -
Gyus, no mather what hapened between Pandev and Ledesma with Lotito, we need them in team.
This way the team and we sufer.Posted from
United States -
I dunno why ppl always said our midfielders are weak. Since we made a lot chances & we can did great defence, that’s mean Lazio’s midfielders is really good. Stefano Mauri & Pasquale Foggia deserves to be Italian International, Dabo is ex international player, Baronio so consistent so far, Matuzalem is a magic, Brocchi is a tireless breaker.. i don’t think we are relly weak in midfielder.
Posted from
United States
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