Rioma – Lazio

By: cathal | November 15th, 2008

On Sunday, we will see high flyers Lazio take on the wonderfully abysmal Rioma in the Stadio Olimpico. With both sides having contrasting seasons, it promises to be a spirited game. Add that to the fact that this is just about the biggest, bestest, most important derby in the world and you have must see family entertainment. Load up on nibbles because it’s going to be a long night. Riomanistas? Wrap up and go out for a walk because whatever the result, we’re still talking minuses.

We may be doing exceedingly well but we do have to keep it up. The fixtures get tougher from here on in and we have to deliver week in week out. I genuinely believe this is a good time to play the season’s first derby; we are on a good run of form, full of confidence, full of goals and there is no sign of a Rioma backlash any time soon. A win for us will make our season and will finally break Rioma’s season. The plan is simple; let’s rain on their parade.

I don’t expect many shocks in our starting line up. Defence seems pretty clear with it likely to be comprised of Radu, Rozehnal, Siviglia and Lichtsteiner. The midifeld is less obvious. Ledesma and Brocchi look like certainties but Mauri and Dabo will fight it out for the other spot. Personally, I would take Stefano. I don’t think Dabo and Brocchi work alongside Ledesma as the Bologna game illustrated and I feel Mauri has more to offer on the whole. In attack, it appears as though the tridente will feature from the start with Za-Pa-Ro expected to grab the goals. However, perhaps Tommaso is not yet 100% as he hasn’t played a full game and maybe that will factor into the decision. Pandev’s poor form of late could also influence Rossi. If one of them were to be left out, Foggia would undoubtedly step in. It seems somewhat idiotic that he probably won’t start anyway but we will see what Rossi decides to come out with.

Rioma are in tatters. Pizarro is suspended, T*tti and De Rossi are not 100%, Taddei is out, nobody is in form (aside from Vucinic), Panucci is the only defender who can score in the opposition goal. I could go on. The point is, there is no reason in hell that Rioma should get a result tomorrow. I think in the laziali minds, there is an understandable sense of fear but then again, it is very alien to watch us do well while that scum suffer this badly. I will revel in it and should we win tomorrow, I will celebrate wildly.

I can’t predict what way it will go and neither would I want to. I just intend to enjoy the occasion as much as I can given whatever circumstances and of course, if we win, it’s party time. Forza Lazio!