SS Lazio vs. CFC Genoa: Mauro Zarate and Floro Flores to shine, Serie A Preview
Sixth placed SS http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lazio-c39775 will take on tenth placed CFC Genoa in a crunch Serie A encounter at Stadio Olimpico in Rome on May 14, 2011. With only two matches left to play in the season, it is a must win game for the Biancocelesti to hold any chance of making
it to the next season’s UEFA Champions League. On the other hand, Genoa will be looking to end the season in the top half of the table.
Lazio
After being in the top four for major part of the campaign, poor results of late have seen the Aquile slip down to sixth place. Edy Reja’s side have lost their last three games and face a tall order to qualify for Europe’s most elite club competition next
season.
Lazio’s home form has been superb all season and of the 18 games played in their own backyard, they have won 12, drawn 3 and lost 3. The Aquile have a tremendous defensive record in the 2010/11 campaign and they have conceded only 13 games at the Stadio
Olimpico. Furthermore, Lazio have not lost to Genoa in their last five meetings.
Genoa
Genoa currently sit on the tenth spot on the league table with 48 points from 36 games. The Rossoblu will look to better last season’s ninth placed finish and a win here can help them achieve it. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Davide-c10638 Ballardini’s side’s away form has been disappointing,
as they have won only 4 of the 18 games played on the road.
Genoa have struggle in their previous meetings with Lazio and their last win against the Biancocelesti came almost three years back. However, neither of the two sides have been able to score more than one goal in all these meetings.
Team News
Lazio
Lazio have struggled to repeat the attacking heroics of the last season, as they do not possess a typical goal-scorer who can provide them with important goals. One of their prolific goal-scorers this season, Libor Kozak, will miss the game due to suspension.
The hosts will also miss their reliable defender, Andre Dias, through suspension. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Tommaso-Rocchi-c35374 is expected to play upfront with Mauro Zarate expected to operate just behind him.
Genoa
Compared to their opponents, the visitors have minor injury concerns as their only major absentee is defender http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kakha-Kaladze-c20233. However, their veteran midfielder, Giandomenico Mesto is suspended for the game.
Player to Watch
Mauro Zarate
After a more than impressive last season, the Argentinean has struggled to make an impact in the 2010/11 campaign. The striker must be low on confidence after the missed penalty in the last week’s defeat to Udinese but he needs to put the miss aside and
lead his team into the Champions League position.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Antonio-Floro-Flores-c6312
The forward has scored in all of Genoa’s last three games this season and he needs to score another this week to guide his team to a top-half finish. Since his loan stint arrival from Udinese, the striker has formed a great partnership with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rodrigo-c31437 Palacio
and has been pivotal in their recent success.
Prediction
Given Lazio’s impressive home form this season and their imposing previous outings against Genoa, they are expected to nick out a win in a close fought contest. Prediction: 1-0
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