Serie A Preview: SS Lazio – Brescia Calcio
Aquilotti coming of age
Lazio had a season to forget last year. The club was struggling for survival as poor performances and internal disputes plagued the club. With the new season however, it marked the start of a new chapter; the troubles of the past season appear to have all
but forgotten.
The Biancocelesti jointly top the Serie A charts after accumulating 10 points from the opening five matches. With Inter playing perennial enemies Juventus, there is every chance the club will be the sole leader of the Serie A. Coach Eduardo Reja has called
on his team not to get complacent.
With Mauro Zarate finding his feet again and a brilliant Hernanes pulling the strings, Lazio will be confident of pocketing the three points against newly promoted Brescia.
The Biancoazzurri surprise
Brescia had a dream start to the new season following their promotion from Serie B. The Biancoazzurri are in fourth place, just a point off the league leaders Inter and Lazio. Their historic victory against AS Roma on 22nd September has proved that
they are strong contenders for the upset of the season.
For all the optimism, the club has lost two out of three away fixtures and Sunday’s fixture against an inspired Lazio outfit will be their biggest test so far this season.
Team News
Lazio: Lazio has Mourad Meghni and Matuzalem nursing their respective injuries.
Expected formation
Lazio will line-up in the same 4-3-1-2 formation that will see Zarate partner Sergio Floccari upfront. Hernanes will relish the trequartista role yet again. Christian Ledesma will dictate the tempo and the Argentine will be ably supported by Cristian Brocchi
and Mauri. Muslera will feel confident of getting a clean sheet as he has a strong defence protecting him.
Probable line-up
Fernando Muslera, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Giuseppe Biava, Andre Dias, Stefan Radu, Stefano Mauri, , Cristian Ledesma, Cristian Brocchi , Stefano Mauri, Hernanes, Mauro Zarate, Sergio Floccari
Brescia: Brescia will not have the services of Ádám Vass and Davide Zoboli. The rest of the squad is available for selection.
Expected Formation
Brescia will line-up in a 4-3-1-2 formation. Alessandro Diamanti will be playing in the trequartista role just behind the striking duo of Young Brazilian Eder and Andrea Caracciolo. The midfield trio of Davide Baiocco, Nicolas Cordova and Panagiotis Kone
will have to put in some impressive shifts to outplay a strong Lazio midfield.
Probable Line-up
Matteo Sereni, Gaetano Berardi, Jonathan Zebina, Gilberto Martinez, Simone Dallamano, Perparim Hetemaj, Panagiotis Kone, Davide Baiocco, Alessandro Diamanti, Eder, Andrea Caracciolo
Key Players
Mauro Zarate
Zarate took the Serie A by storm upon his arrival in January, 2009. The striker ran rings around even the best of defenders with his sublime skills. Last term however, was a season to forget. The striker was in miserable form and the Argentine was promptly
benched. With the arrival of Hernanes, the striker is finally looking like the player that forced the club to part with their precious millions. The striker found the back of the net against Chievo Verona after seven months and will now look to make up for
his lack of goals. Expect a goal or two from the dangerous forward.
Jonathan Zebina
This former Juventus man will have the titanic task of keeping the Hernanes-Zarate partnership in check. Zebina will have to play beyond his ability if Brescia is to get any points.
Prediction
Brescia might be playing well but Lazio will be a task too much for the Biancoazzurri. A Hernanes-inspired Lazio to thrash Brescia 3 – 1.
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