Lecce – Lazio

By: cathal | February 21st, 2009

Lazio will take on a spirited Lecce side tomorrow in a game of significant importance as both teams look to get their Serie A campaigns going again after horrible performances in recent weeks. The Giallorossi are desperate for points in their relegation battle while we are in dire of need of stopping our disastrous descent down the table with a much needed confidence boost in three points. It will be a tough game with both sides eager for the win. Nevertheless, it should be a fascinating duel.

There has been much speculation prior to this game regarding a change of tactic from Rossi. Apparently Delio has decided to ditch the tridente, preferring Foggia to play as trequartista behind the two frontmen. I think this is the right move although Pasquale has been anything but convincing in recent weeks. However, given the chance to shine, I expect him to lap it up and show Delio what he has been missing by having the little man on the bench. The same sources said that Rossi would rely on Rocchi to be the goalscoring threat. It will be interesting to see who lines out tomorrow but information can be taken from the selected squad.

Inzaghi is injured and normally when one forward is out, Rossi would take Makinwa. Now that Makinwa is elsewhere, Mendicino is probably first in line for a call-up should one of our forwards be unavailable. However, Delio has decided not to take anyone as a replacement for Simone which leads me to believe that we will definitely deploy a 4-3-1-2 formation. Ledesma has made a remarkable recovery and is in the squad for tomorrow but whether he will be considered fit enough to start is a different matter. Both Mauri and Meghni are injured so perhaps Cristian made the squad by default. However, as today has worn on, it seems more and more likely he will play but I guess it all depends on how he feels tomorrow morning. Dabo would step in if he is deemed unfit.

Interestingly, Rossi appears to have concluded that Pandev and Zarate will begin upfront. This goes against the reliance on Tommaso theory but I think it is the right decision. Goran was suffering with a very minor injury problem this week so I wouldn’t put my house on him starting. Kolarov and Cribari were also injury doubts but both are set to be fit and will start if that is the case with Siviglia and Lichtsteiner making up the rest of the back four. How Rozehnal has lost his place in the team I will never ever know. He was massively impressive against Fiorentina.

Here is the expected line up below but do not be surprised if Rozehnal, Dabo, Rocchi, Radu and maybe even Carrizo start. These predicted line-ups are often wrong.

Lazio (4-3-1-2): Muslera, Kolarov, Cribari, Siviglia, Lichtsteiner, Matuzalem, Ledesma, Brocchi, Foggia, Zarate, Pandev.

Lecce are tricky so-and-sos and don’t expect them to roll over and be tickled by us. Yes, we should be able to beat them but they’ve already stunned us this season and I put nothing past them to do it again. They are one of those teams nobody relishes the prospect of facing and that often works in their favour. I wouldn’t like to bet on the outcome of this game but if we can sneak a couple of goals it should be enough. They lack firepower and as long as our defence hold firm and our strikers take their chances, we will be absolutely fine. Forza Lazio!

Previous Encounter: Lazio 1-1 Lecce (Tiribocchi 26, Inzaghi 88)
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