Serie A Preview: Juventus - Lazio
What: Serie A - Matchday 35
Who: Juventus (3rd, 67 points) vs. Lazio (12th, 40 points)
When: Sunday 27 April 2008, 15:00 CET
Where: Stadio Olimpico di Torino
Bianconeri set sights on stealing second
La Vecchia Signora will be very pleased with her first season back in the top flight. The early season target of fourth place has been achieved and Claudio Ranieri’s men can now set their sights on automatic qualification into the Champions League.
Juventus are in fine form and current second placed side Roma could be set for a drop after a disappointing home draw with Livorno which may not only have ended the Scudetto race, but also saw a horror knee injury to captain Francesco Totti. With the Bianconeri recording a smashing 4-0 win in Bergamo, that automatic place is up for grabs.
Juventus have not had any troubles scoring goals lately. Four goals hit the back of the net last weekend and with two of Serie A’s top forwards in Del Piero and Trezeguet, goals will not be a problem.
Many members of this team are preparing themselves for Euro 2008 and playing themselves into good form. With Juventus taking on a weakened Lazio side here, they have a great chance to continue the winning form.
Battling Biancoceleste hit stumbling block
Lazio were enjoying a mini-revival which saw them pick up good results against Milan, Inter and Roma. However, recent injuries, suspensions, and mixing and matching of the lineup has seen them return to the kind of results they were picking up at the start of the season.
Delio Rossi has used recent matches to give game time to fringe players and many have not impressed with young keeper Nestor Fernando Muslera already having lost his spot after making one howler too many.
Certain players could and should be fighting for their futures in this Lazio side after failing to secure regular football this season. Injuries and suspensions will see them get a chance to impress against Juve who are one of Italy’s inform sides.
The Biancocelesti have a very poor away record with only one victory on their last 21 travels. Their record in Turin is just as bad with only 8 wins in 63 matches, the last coming in 2002. The Aquilotti are going to be up against it, and even a draw would be an exceptional result here.
FORM GUIDE
Juventus
Atalanta - Juventus 0 - 4 20/04/2008 SERIE A
Juventus - Parma 3 - 0 16/04/2008 SERIE A
Juventus - Milan 3 - 2 12/04/2008 SERIE A
Palermo - Juventus 3 - 2 06/04/2008 SERIE A
Inter Milan - Juventus 1 - 2 22/03/2008 SERIE A
Lazio
Catania - Lazio 1 - 0 20/04/2008 SERIE A
Inter Milan - Lazio 0 - 0 16/04/2008 COPPA ITALIA
Lazio - Siena 1 - 1 13/04/2008 SERIE A
Parma - Lazio 2 - 2 06/04/2008 SERIE A
Lazio - Inter Milan 1 - 1 29/03/2008 SERIE A
TEAM NEWS
Juventus
Juve will be without striker Vincenzo Iaquinta, and defenders Alessandro Birindelli and Jorge Andrade. Sissoko and Chiellini return to the side that beat Atalanta 4-0. While Guglielmo Stendardo is unlikely to start, Lazio own his contract and he will certainly have torn allegiances despite saying he would appreciate a permanent deal with the Bianconeri.
Possible Starting XI : Buffon; Zebina, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Camoranesi, Sissoko, Zanetti, Nedved; Trezeguet, Del Piero
Lazio
The Lazio side which travel north is missing half of Rossi’s preferred starting lineup. Ledesma, Dabo and Zauri are suspended; Diakhite, Tare and Behrami are injured and gun forward Tommaso Rocchi is also unlikely to feature due to a late injury. With neither Pandev nor Bianchi at full fitness it remains to be seen if they will take their place in the starting side, with Fabio Vignaroli an option should one not be able to take to the field.
Possible Starting XI : Ballotta; De Silvestri, Siviglia, Cribari, Kolarov; Mudingayi, Baronio, Mutarelli; Mauri; Pandev, Bianchi
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)
The inform man of Serie A at present, Ale has something to prove to all of Italian football, particularly CT Roberto Donadoni. His superb form has set Juve alight recently and with a hattrick in Bergamo last weekend, Del Piero has well and truly staked his claims for a place in the Euro squad. He scored twice last time the two teams met and he will once again be the man to watch here.
Stefano Mauri (Lazio)
Mauri has not lived up to his high standards this season. Gone is the form which saw him break into the national set-up last season. Mauri certainly needs to impress in the short time before the end of this season, as he may be looking at a future away from the Stadio Olimpico.
PREDICTION
Juve are in fine form and will come away with a win here.
Juventus 3-1 Lazio
goal.com
tomorrow, we seem to have a good chance given all the suspensions and injurys Lazio have, although we can't just write them off.
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although it is not other teams that make us win they just give us a better chance. We won't win unless we turn up to the game in the right mentality which has served us well this season, without it we are only half the team we are
....yeah....!!! 
