Lazio – Torino

By: cathal | January 21st, 2009

Lazio will welcome Torino to the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow night in a one-leg tie to decide who advances to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia. In what promises to be an exciting game, we will have take our opponents very seriously in order to progress.

We have already faced the Turin side once this season; that was a comfortable 3-1 away win in September. However, the Coppa is a different kettle of fish as Torino have already demonstrated by dumping out Fiorentina and we ourselves also battled against the odds in Milan. Some will undoubtedly view this as a walk in the park as we have greater quality and we’re playing at home but this is a cup game, one off day and inevitably, you are out.

Rossi has been talking about the game ahead and the Coppa in general. He has only confirmed one player to start tomorrow evening and that is Muslera. The starting line-up will be interesting for a variety of reasons. It seems Foggia and Pandev have slight injuries but Delio, particulary in Goran’s case may be forced to take a risk. Del Nero is tipped to start but after Zarate’s tantrum at the weekend and the reluctancy to field the seemingly outgoing Makinwa, the forward three will be a point of focus. In defence, Rossi will have to choose between the current regulars, Diakite and Rozehnal or the recently sidelined Cribari and Siviglia. I personally expect Cribs and Siv to line out and I would think De Silvestri and Kolarov will flank them. Radu has been poor of late and Lichtsteiner is still finding full fitness so I guess it would be wise to leave them out. Meghni appears to have picked up yet another knock so Mauri will probably play with Brocchi and any other midfielder from our roster. Ledesma could be watching this one from the bench and Firmani and Matuzalem’s fitness status is ambiguous to say the least so perhaps Dabo is the favoured candidate.

As for Torino, I’m not sure how seriously they will take the game and at present, I am struggling to find a predicted formation. Their league form has been poor but they have shown some grit in recent matches and I would underestimate them at our peril. They may almost forfeit the game preferring to concentrate on the league or they could go all out for the win and use it as the impetus to boost their season. There’s a few quality players in their squad. Need I mention Bianchi?

Anyway, I don’t view this as an easy tie, I see it as a completely unpredictable one. You can throw that form book out the window, it’s the Coppa, I wouldn’t dare call it. Forza Lazio!