Serie A: Lazio vs Juventus [Dec 15th 2007] (10 Viewers)
- Thread starter JCK
- Start date
Serie A Preview: Lazio - Juventus
What: Serie A, Round 16
Who: Juventus (3rd, 29 points) vs. Palermo (12th, 17 points)
When: 2030 CET, Saturday, December 16 2007
Where: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Must Win
Juventus are off to Rome to take on Lazio in what is a must win game for both parties, even though we are not even half way into the season.
The Bianconeri have fallen a massive eight points adrift of Inter already, and anything more before the Christmas break would basically end title hopes here and now.
They have not done too badly upon their return to Serie A. In fact, Claudio Ranieri has delivered results, and it is simply Inter's marauding form that has left them frustrated, with absolutely no room for error.
There are suggestions that the Old Lady might just be another year away from a title challenge, and that challenging Roma for second place and direct qualification to the Champions League might be a more realistic target.
Early Days
Then of course it is early days. Inter take on Milan next weekend, and a Rossoneri win would throw the Giallorossi and the Bianconeri right back into the mix at the top.
Lazio will also be pinning their hopes on the fact that it is too early. In 12th place after 15 games, a massive 20 points behind the leaders was not where they would have wanted to be.
Delio Rossi's boys have looked brittle this season. The spirit is there, and you can see they are all fighting like they did last season, but the lack of a proper squad is beginning to tell.
Teams like Udinese, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Palermo look far stronger, and with the likes of Napoli and Atalanta also flying high, even a top half berth will take some work.
Unless some work is done in the January transfer window, the harsh fact is that it might even get worse as real fatigue kicks in March onwards.
The silver lining, of course, is that the winter break will come at a great time. Exit from the Champions League could also be a blessing in disguise.
At the moment, they are sandwiched between Catania and Torino, two teams that will probably settle for a mid-table finish. A Uefa Cup berth this season is not out of reach, but the Biancocelesti must first focus on getting into the top half. A result tonight will definitely help.
COACH SPEAK
Ranieri: "We have only won once on the road against Cagliari. That’s not great for a side like us who have certain ambitions.
"The teams that we face at home are concentrating more on defending, whereas when we are away they are more open.
"We played well away to Fiorentina, Roma and Milan and we didn’t look vulnerable at the back.
"I’m expecting them to take the game to us and attack in numbers, pushing the wingers forward. But we are going there to win and the side has convinced me that it has the right mentality."
Rossi: "I don’t know if our efforts in Europe will weigh on us, but the elimination could give us more motivation. Juve look like us last season, they play without unnecessary frills and are not distracted by other competitions, so they can train daily. It shows.
"I have married Lazio and there was no courtship from Juventus. My mind is focused solely and exclusively on Lazio.
"Ranieri is an experienced Coach who has done well in Italy and abroad. He is now making the most of his chance with Juve.
"Stefano Mauri is still recovering and I preferred Mourad Meghni against Real because he was in better shape. My ideas have not changed and the club knows what they are.
"I don’t know if there will be any important reinforcements, but if a player wants to leave then we won’t tie him down. Lazio must be considered a target rather than a stepping stone."
FORM GUIDE
Lazio
Match Result Date Championship
Real Madrid - Lazio 3 - 1 11/12/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Lazio - Catania 2 - 0 08/12/2007 SERIE A
Inter Milan - Lazio 3 - 0 05/12/2007 SERIE A
Siena - Lazio 1 - 1 02/12/2007 SERIE A
Lazio - Olympiakos 1 - 2 28/11/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Lazio - Parma 1 - 0 25/11/2007 SERIE A
JuventusMatch Result Date Championship
Juventus - Atalanta 1 - 0 09/12/2007 SERIE A
Empoli - Juventus 2 - 1 06/12/2007 COPPA ITALIA
Milan - Juventus 0 - 0 01/12/2007 SERIE A
Juventus - Palermo 5 - 0 25/11/2007 SERIE A
Parma - Juventus 2 - 2 11/11/2007 SERIE A
Juventus - Inter Milan 1 - 1 04/11/2007 SERIE A
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Lazio: Goran Pandev
Exit from the Champions League has been a tough thing for the team to take, and there is nothing better than a couple of goals to lift spirits. The Macedonian will need to give his team something to build on.
Juventus: Gigi Buffon
It will be fascinating to see the best goalkeeper in the world bid to deny Pandev and Rocchi. Odds are that Juve will need a few stunning saves from the Azzurri number one.
PREDICTION
Juventus go into this game in far better shape than Lazio, and you simply have to believe that it will tell. The Biancocelesti do not come back well from a midweek outing, and the chances of a home win are remote.
Lazio 1-2 Juventus
goal.com
What: Serie A, Round 16
Who: Juventus (3rd, 29 points) vs. Palermo (12th, 17 points)
When: 2030 CET, Saturday, December 16 2007
Where: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Must Win
Juventus are off to Rome to take on Lazio in what is a must win game for both parties, even though we are not even half way into the season.
The Bianconeri have fallen a massive eight points adrift of Inter already, and anything more before the Christmas break would basically end title hopes here and now.
They have not done too badly upon their return to Serie A. In fact, Claudio Ranieri has delivered results, and it is simply Inter's marauding form that has left them frustrated, with absolutely no room for error.
There are suggestions that the Old Lady might just be another year away from a title challenge, and that challenging Roma for second place and direct qualification to the Champions League might be a more realistic target.
Early Days
Then of course it is early days. Inter take on Milan next weekend, and a Rossoneri win would throw the Giallorossi and the Bianconeri right back into the mix at the top.
Lazio will also be pinning their hopes on the fact that it is too early. In 12th place after 15 games, a massive 20 points behind the leaders was not where they would have wanted to be.
Delio Rossi's boys have looked brittle this season. The spirit is there, and you can see they are all fighting like they did last season, but the lack of a proper squad is beginning to tell.
Teams like Udinese, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Palermo look far stronger, and with the likes of Napoli and Atalanta also flying high, even a top half berth will take some work.
Unless some work is done in the January transfer window, the harsh fact is that it might even get worse as real fatigue kicks in March onwards.
The silver lining, of course, is that the winter break will come at a great time. Exit from the Champions League could also be a blessing in disguise.
At the moment, they are sandwiched between Catania and Torino, two teams that will probably settle for a mid-table finish. A Uefa Cup berth this season is not out of reach, but the Biancocelesti must first focus on getting into the top half. A result tonight will definitely help.
COACH SPEAK
Ranieri: "We have only won once on the road against Cagliari. That’s not great for a side like us who have certain ambitions.
"The teams that we face at home are concentrating more on defending, whereas when we are away they are more open.
"We played well away to Fiorentina, Roma and Milan and we didn’t look vulnerable at the back.
"I’m expecting them to take the game to us and attack in numbers, pushing the wingers forward. But we are going there to win and the side has convinced me that it has the right mentality."
Rossi: "I don’t know if our efforts in Europe will weigh on us, but the elimination could give us more motivation. Juve look like us last season, they play without unnecessary frills and are not distracted by other competitions, so they can train daily. It shows.
"I have married Lazio and there was no courtship from Juventus. My mind is focused solely and exclusively on Lazio.
"Ranieri is an experienced Coach who has done well in Italy and abroad. He is now making the most of his chance with Juve.
"Stefano Mauri is still recovering and I preferred Mourad Meghni against Real because he was in better shape. My ideas have not changed and the club knows what they are.
"I don’t know if there will be any important reinforcements, but if a player wants to leave then we won’t tie him down. Lazio must be considered a target rather than a stepping stone."
FORM GUIDE
Lazio
Match Result Date Championship
Real Madrid - Lazio 3 - 1 11/12/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Lazio - Catania 2 - 0 08/12/2007 SERIE A
Inter Milan - Lazio 3 - 0 05/12/2007 SERIE A
Siena - Lazio 1 - 1 02/12/2007 SERIE A
Lazio - Olympiakos 1 - 2 28/11/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Lazio - Parma 1 - 0 25/11/2007 SERIE A
JuventusMatch Result Date Championship
Juventus - Atalanta 1 - 0 09/12/2007 SERIE A
Empoli - Juventus 2 - 1 06/12/2007 COPPA ITALIA
Milan - Juventus 0 - 0 01/12/2007 SERIE A
Juventus - Palermo 5 - 0 25/11/2007 SERIE A
Parma - Juventus 2 - 2 11/11/2007 SERIE A
Juventus - Inter Milan 1 - 1 04/11/2007 SERIE A
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Lazio: Goran Pandev
Exit from the Champions League has been a tough thing for the team to take, and there is nothing better than a couple of goals to lift spirits. The Macedonian will need to give his team something to build on.
Juventus: Gigi Buffon
It will be fascinating to see the best goalkeeper in the world bid to deny Pandev and Rocchi. Odds are that Juve will need a few stunning saves from the Azzurri number one.
PREDICTION
Juventus go into this game in far better shape than Lazio, and you simply have to believe that it will tell. The Biancocelesti do not come back well from a midweek outing, and the chances of a home win are remote.
Lazio 1-2 Juventus
goal.com
We cant.
Either Palladino or Oliviera will start.
It is so obvious that Ranieri has personnel problems with Tiago & his latest comments about Sissoko made evrything clear.
Anyway,I dont care anymore if he starts or not,I am just sad for the 21 milll. euros lost on both Tiago & Almiron,it is just frustrating.
Either Palladino or Oliviera will start.
It is so obvious that Ranieri has personnel problems with Tiago & his latest comments about Sissoko made evrything clear.
Anyway,I dont care anymore if he starts or not,I am just sad for the 21 milll. euros lost on both Tiago & Almiron,it is just frustrating.
