Italian Serie A Preview: SS Lazio – AS Roma (Part 2)
Team News
SS Lazio
Reja will be without the services of Mourad Meghni and Alberto Quadri as the two are out injured. Giuseppe Biava will also not play a part in the fixture due to his suspension. Rocchi and Floccari will be the strikers.
Expected Formation
Reja will line up his men in an attacking 4-3-1-2 formation. Segrio Floccari and Tomasso Rocchi will start from the off with Mauro Zarate coming on as an impact substitute. Hernanes will look to play some killer balls from his favourite
trequartista position while Stefano Mauri, Cristian Ledesma and Cristian Brocchi will look to dominate Gillarossi midfield. In defence, Andres Diaz will look to continue his rich rein of form while Guglielmo Stendardo will partner him in the heart of defence.
Stephan Lichtsteiner and Stefan Radu will take the critical full back positions while Fernanco Muslera will continue his fledging career with the gloves.
Probable Line up
Fernando Muslera, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Guglielmo Stendardo, Andres Diaz, Stefan Radu, Stefano Mauri, Cristian Ledesma, Cristian Brocchi, Hernanes, Sergio Floccari, Tommaso Rocchi.
AS Roma
Ranier will have to do without the services of Juan, Taddei and Stefano Okaka Chuka as the trio is out injured. Francesco Totti got himself a red card against Lecce and will not be in the stadium. Er Pupone believes his side will not win
the game and it would be too painful watching them lose in the stadium. David Pizzaro and Nicolas Burdisso have recovered from minor knocks and will start from the off.
Expected Formation
Gilarossi will start the match in a 4-4-2 formation with Marco Borriello and Mirko Vucinic leading the line. Simone Perrotta and Jeremy Menez will line up on the flanks while Daniele De Rossi and David Pizzaro will play in the centre of
the park. Marco Cassetti and John Arne Riise will play in the full back positions while Philippe Mexes and Burdisso will form the centre back pairing. Julio Sergio, owing much to his impressive form of late, will keep the gloves.
Probable Line up
Julio Sergio, Marco Cassetti, Philippe Mexes, Nicolas Burdisso, John Arne Riise, Simone Perrotta, Daniele De Rossi, David Pizzaro, Jeremy Menez, Marco Borriello, Mirko Vucinic.
Key Players
Hernanes
The Brazilian has been a true star for Aquile following his arrival from Brazil. The player has a knack for being in the right place at the right time to pick out a pass and will create all sorts of problems for Roman backline with his
incisive through balls. Floccari and Rocchi will heavily depend on his services in the final third.
Daniele De Rossi
Owing much to De Rossi’s position on the pitch, he will come face-to-face with Hernanes more often than not. The Roman gladiator will have to shut out Hernanes with a masterful defensive display if his side is to harbour any hopes of progression.
Prediction
On current form, one can easily write-off Gillarossi and predict a Lazio victory. However, in derbies, form matters for little as the sides play with their hearts on their sleeves. This will be a tense and a hard fought match and Roma’s
big match experience will come to their rescue. The two side will share the spoils with a 1 – 1 draw.
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