Lazio - Juventus
Stadio Olimpico
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Delio Rossi called for his Lazio side to be more clinical in front of goal following last weekend’s defeat against Livorno, and they will have few chances to waste against a seemingly invincible Juventus side at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.
All in all it has been a positive start to the season for the capital side. Week 15’s 2-1 reverse against Livorno came after two 3-2 wins and the Biancocelesti are still unbeaten at home with five victories from seven. Although the Lazio faithful approached the season with reservations, as yet there have been few indications that their side will be caught up in a relegation dogfight.
The main task for Juventus boss Fabio Capello is preventing complacency within his squad. The Old Lady have a 10 point lead at the top and looked unstoppable in a 4-0 win over Cagliari last weekend. Having seen their major challengers fall by the wayside in recent weeks, Capello’s men know that if they hold their nerve the Scudetto should be a formality.
Saturday’s clash has a special significance for Giuliano Giannichedda who left Rome for Turin in the summer after four seasons with Lazio. Paolo Di Canio and Pavel Nedved have also lined up for both Lazio and Juventus, and it was Nedved who scored a late winner for Juventus in this fixture last season.
Delio Rossi has the luxury of a full squad and Di Canio is set to feature despite his anger at being substituted against Livorno. Emerson and Mauro Camoranesi return for Juventus but Gianluca Pessotto is a doubt. Christian Abbiati will again step in for Gigi Buffon who is out until January.
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Lazio (probable): Peruzzi; Belleri, Siviglia, Cribari, Zauri; Behrami, Dabo, Liverani; Pandev, Di Canio, Tare
Juventus (probable): Abbiati; Zambrotta, Thuram, Cannavaro, Chiellini; Camoranesi, Emerson, Vieira, Nedved; Trezeguet , Ibrahimovic