Italian Serie A preview: SS Lazio – SSC Napoli (Part 2)
Team News
SS Lazio
Lazio have been lucky with their injuries so far this season. Eduardo Reja will only miss the services of Mourad Meghni and Alberto Quadri for this game. Hernanes was rested for the game against Cesena and he will return and take up his playmaking role.
Expected Formation
Edy Reja will use a 4-4-1-1 formation as Aquile will look to boss the midfield. Sergio Floccari will play as the lone striker with Hernanes playing the trequartista role just behind him. Stefano Mauri and Mauro Zarate will line up on the flanks. Where Mauri
has been a revelation this season, Zarate has been extremely poor lately and he must rediscover his form or risk losing the first team place. Christian Brocchi and Cristian Ledesma will look to counter Marek Hamsik in the middle of the park. Aquile have a
reliable fullback pairing in Stefan Radu and Stephan Lichtsteiner and the two will be covered by Andre Dias and Giuseppe Biava. The ever improving Fernando Muslera will keep the gloves for the Eagles.
Probable Line up
Fernando Muslera, Stefan Radu and Stephan Lichtsteiner, Andre Dias, Giuseppe Biava, Mauro Zarate, Stefano Mauri, Cristian Brocchi, Cristian Ledesma, Hernanes, Sergio Floccari
Napoli
Napoli will be without Cristiano Lucarelli, Salvatore Aronica, Andrea Dossena and Hugo Campagnaro as all the mentioned players are nursing their respective injuries while Walter Gargano is suspended for this game.
Expected Formation
Partenopei will take to the field in an attacking 3-4-2-1 formation with Edinson Cavani leading the line. Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik will play behind the striker while Manuel Blasi and Hassan Yebda will play in the centre midfield positions. Veteran
goalkeeper Morgan de Sanctis will have a three man defence in front of him with Fabiano Santacroce, Paolo Cannavaro and Gianluca Grava forming a three man central defence.
Probable Line up
Morgan De Sanctis, Fabiano Santacroce, Paolo Cannavaro, Gianluca Grava, Christian Maggio, Manuel Blasi, Hassan Yebda, Juan Camilo Zuniga, Marek Hamsik, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Edinson Cavani
Key Players
Hernanes
The Brazilian import has been one of the best players in Serie A this season. The Brazilian Sensation was rested for the game against Cesena and it showed on the result. With Hernanes back in the line up, Floccari will have plenty to feed on.
Ezequiel Lavezzi
The Argentine, with his tireless running and sublime dribbling, has been one of the best Azzurri players so far. Edinson Cavani might be the top scorer for Napoli but it’s the Argentine who does all the running or Partenopei. The Player will look to draw
defenders with the ball at his feet thus leaving with Cavani with all the space to play in.
Prediction
The game would be an entertaining affair with both attacking sides creating plenty of chances. The two sides are evenly matched on paper but Napoli has a tremendous away record this season. Partenopei will inflict third consecutive defeat on the Aquile but
the game would be hard fought over the 90 minutes. A Lavezzi inspired Napoli to register a 2 – 1 victory!
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