Lazio - Inter

[Piola]

OK ragazzi, the biggest match of the round features us, as the campioni d'Italia travel sud to face the mighty biancocelesti. If we win it'll confirm us as 4th place contenders again (and we really do need 3 pts). Also after our midweek Coppa win over the red half of Milan, a win would make us kings of Milano for the first time in fuck knows how long.

Lazio injury worries - just Lichtsteiner after the Coppa game, De Silvestri is raring to step in, more than adequate replacement. Siviglia remains out also.

Ex-pescara defender Modibo Diakite` could be in line for a start in centre of defence after making Kaka' and Ronaldinho look like Serie B players.

Pandev and Zarate to resume their usual firework up front. Probably Foggia to start ahead of Rocchi.

----------------------Carrizo
De Silvestri---Diakite'/Cribari----Rozehnal----Radu
-------Brocchi/Dabo-------Ledesma------Meghni
-------------Foggia---------------Zarate
---------------------Pandev

Konami will have a special presentation of the new shirts to be worn with PES2009 on the front.

For Inter, Chivu returns but ex-laziali Jimenez the fuccking wanka of a snake and Dejo Stankovic are in doubt.

LIVE RAI/ESPN = 6AM monday morning

more later

FORZA LAZIO!!

[Juventino]

6am Sunday morning.

I see Lazio rising to the challenge and putting in a good performance but Inter jagging a win.

[LFTWNG11]

ESPN is better quality, but RAI is better commetry...

[hellas_08]

ESPN is better quality, but RAI is better commetry...

got that right

is caressa on RAI international
even though i dont understand what he is saying Caressa is a very good commentator
very passionate about football

[hellas_08]

dont expect inter to win comfortably here i say 2-2 draw

[Piola]

6am Sunday morning.

I see Lazio rising to the challenge and putting in a good performance but Inter jagging a win.

I knew it was Sunday, dunno why I typed otherwise :? :?

I think we are underdogs obviously but if all our key men put in great performances, and a confident Carrizo between the sticks, we can win this.

Caressa doesn't commentate for RAI, he does SKY Calcio in Italy. Giovanni Scaramuzzino commentates for RAI.

ESPN's picture quality is better and sound too, but their commentary is shocking. Orsatti, the only half decent one there.

[FT9]

I think we are underdogs

even tho u did put obviously
thankyou captain obvious
seeing a bit of the inter napoli match i would say lazio could put a up a good fight and possibly grab a draw
but lazio would need there AA game inter are just all class

[Piola]

I think we are underdogs

even tho u did put obviously
thankyou captain obvious
seeing a bit of the inter napoli match i would say lazio could put a up a good fight and possibly grab a draw
but lazio would need there AA game inter are just all class

you put it obviously yourself

[LFTWNG11]

Going to be a hard game to watch, Lazio wil get carved.

Inter's strengths match our weakness... their full backs and wingers are going to have a field day... unfrotunately

[Piola]

Going to be a hard game to watch, Lazio wil get carved.

Inter's strengths match our weakness... their full backs and wingers are going to have a field day... unfrotunately

that's why having Lichtsteiner out is farked cause De Silvestri isn't as solid defensive wise

On the other hand thank fuck Radu is available cause Maicon would absolutely f*ck Kolarov up, but I honestly reckon Radu can handle him if he's on the top of his game.

but the key as always, Zarate, Pandev will need to have blinders for us to have any real chance.

[Missing Post Count]

The most recurrent question in Italy these days is “who will stop Inter?”. Mourinho’s side seem unstoppable, and have proved their solidity and consistency with a nine-game unbeaten run in Serie A, managing five wins in the last five games. Next Saturday’s visit to Lazio could settle the Nerazzurri on top of the table and speed up their race to the title, holding rivals AC Milan and Juve at least six points behind. Delio Rossi’s playesr have lost only once in the previous seven home fixtures this season, managing four wins and two draws at the Olimpico, where they have conceded only three goals to their opponents so far, and failed to score only once. Lazio v Inter will also be the challenge between the two best attacks of the competitions: the Biancocelesti and the Nerazzurri are in fact the Serie A’s joint-top scorers with 20 goals each. Lazio’s Argentinean talent Mauro Zarate will surely dare to defy Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic: both players have already scored seven goals so far this term. Lazio’s fans’ hopes rest also on the other players; Lazio’s substitutes have scored more goals after coming off the bench than any other team’s so far (6).

Lazio have failed to win against Inter in the last nine league games: five draws and four wins to the Nerazzurri in the process.
Jose Mourinho’s side are unbeaten in the last nine Serie A games, and won the last five.
Lazio and Inter are the competition’s joint-top scorer teams with 20 goals each.
Inter boast the highest numbers of different players having already scored a goal this season (9), while Lazio’s substitutes have scored more goals after coming off the bench than any other team’s so far (6).
Inter are the only team in the Serie A yet to concede a goal from inside the penalty area, and share with Juventus the leadership of the clean sheets kept so far (7).

[Piola]

where'd you get that little write up from??

I knew about the Lazio bench stats, mainly cause Rocchi and Foggia have had such success coming off the bench and then there was that Inzaghi goal. Maybe we'll see an Inzaghino special on Sunday morning.

as for all the goals Inter have conceded coming outside the penalty area - that isn't right. What about Lavezzi's goal last week. :?

[Missing Post Count]

From Dagbladet, a Norwegian newspaper.

[Piola]

fark yea, Lichtsteiner set to pass his fitness test, Pandev and Mauri confirmed

On Saturday evening, Lazio will host a seemingly unstoppable Inter side at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Adam Scime asks whether the Biancocelesti can stop the Inter juggernaut...

Inter have been on a tear in Serie A lately, unbeaten in their last nine Serie A matches and developing a six point lead over second placed Juventus and Milan in the standings. On Saturday evening the Nerazzurri take on Lazio, a team who started the season in fantastic fashion, but have levelled off in recent weeks, culminating in a disappointing 2-0 loss to Atalanta last weekend.

Inter have won their last five league games and seem to going from strength to strength, but they must surely be wary of a talented Lazio side with a good home record.

Do Statistics Tell The Whole Story?

Looking at the table one will notice that leaders Inter and fifth placed Lazio, separated by 10 points, share the best offence in Serie A - both sides have scored 22 goals. However, while the Eagles of Rome have conceded 16, Inter have only picked the ball out of their own net half that amount.

I briefly mentioned that Delio Rossi’s team have a good home record above, this includes 4 wins, 2 draws, and a loss. Interestingly, that is the exact record of Inter away from the San Siro this season.

Therefore, this game could come down to the wire when just going by the table, even if Lazio are actually winless in their last three Serie A matches.

Do I Detect A Shade Of Black and Blue?

Although no one can deny Lazio’s achievements this season there are signs that point to an Inter victory in this match. First of all, Lazio have not beaten Inter in their last 13 attempts and the oh-so-confident Jose Mourinho will be keen to make that 14.

Furthermore, the Milan-based side have conceded just one goal since the return of Walter Samuel to the backline and he seems to have shored up the defence admirably. Thus, despite possessing great attackers like Tommaso Rocchi, Mauro Zarate, and Goran Pandev, Lazio will need to be clicking in order to breakdown the Inter defence.

The Romans travelled to Milan in the Coppa Italia in midweek, and came away from San Siro as 2-1 winners after extra time. While, the players will be on a high note after defeating the 10-man Rossoneri, some of them will be exhausted, and this could take its toll against a very physical side like Inter.

The likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Esteban Cambiasso, Sulley Muntari, and Javier Zanetti out-muscled and out-worked Napoli and Juventus in recent weeks, so much will depend on whether Lazio can keep up with these players.

And The 3 Points Will Go To?

The match has the potential to be a close but very exciting affair, just like the Rome derby was. Overall, I’d expect Inter to win in the end, but Lazio have surprised many people already this season, and Saturday against the Italian champions would be a great opportunity to do so again.

[Juventino]

Laziale I'd say best to sleep around about midnight and wake up closer to 5-6am. The amount of times I've gone the all nighter route only to fall alseep during Juve's match this season, causing me to watch the tape after, is ridiculous.

[Piola]

Laziale I'd say best to sleep around about midnight and wake up closer to 5-6am. The amount of times I've gone the all nighter route only to fall alseep during Juve's match this season, causing me to watch the tape after, is ridiculous.

Thanks for the advice cause I wouldn't've taped it and risked missing the whole thing.

[Juventino]

I went that route for Inter - Juve, slept about 12, woke up at 4 and I was fresh and raring to go! Pity the team wasn't.

[Piola]

I wish there was a way to avoid hearing the Chievo-Roma score so I can watch it straight after but it'll pop up somewhere during the coverage.

[Piola]

haha well what can you say, Inter are clearly a class above their closest challengers and 2 classes above us.

Game was over after 2 minutes when Samuel scored and even though we created one or two chances, Inter don't give up those leads. Didn't like all of Rossi's starting 11, why Kolarov starts ahead of Radu when Inter's biggest threat Maicon plays on that side, no idea.

Diakite deserved a start after his midweek performance and I'm not gonna blast him but you wonder whether its best to start an experienced defender in a game like this. Either way, he'll learn and improve.

ahaha I dont even feel angry, cause its an expected loss and the team we lost to is going to be crowned Campioni d'Italia again in May.

but our position is worrying. We'll slip to around 9th after the rest of the matches are played and need to take minumum 7 points from our next 3 (Udinese, Palermo, Reggina) to keep or slim chance of finishing 4th alive.

NON MOLLARE MAI

[LFTWNG11]

Fell into Juventino's trap, although I fell asleep during the Lazio match. Got to love Foxtel IQ, watched the rest of the game jsut now.... slaguhbtered, just like i said. Too strong all ov er the park in reality, but it really showed on the wings.

[diegom]

hahaha
3-0



@ least we put a better fight!





curious though, how many goals have lazio scored against inter in the last 3years????

[reggina]

Lazio are GARB

[Piola]

hahaha
3-0


@ least we put a better fight!

Yea and you got the same amount of points that we did - 0.

curious though, how many goals have lazio scored against inter in the last 3years????

5

Lazio are GARB

Reggina fans are good at judging garbage ei?? considering you have to watch it week in, week out.

Fell into Juventino's trap, although I fell asleep during the Lazio match. Got to love Foxtel IQ, watched the rest of the game jsut now.... slaguhbtered, just like i said. Too strong all ov er the park in reality, but it really showed on the wings.

Having our 2 best full backs out made it a lot worse.

What you think of Diakite besides the autogol. I reckon he's gonna come good. Top prospect.

[adriano10]

the fact that for a few weeks we were very poor and still sit top of the table just as we start to play better again is a very good sign.... i still think we're gonna do it in the league quite easily...i don't know about Europe though, i'm not holding my breath...we'll find a way to fuck it up

[LFTWNG11]

hahaha
3-0


@ least we put a better fight!

Yea and you got the same amount of points that we did - 0.

curious though, how many goals have lazio scored against inter in the last 3years????

5

Lazio are GARB

Reggina fans are good at judging garbage ei?? considering you have to watch it week in, week out.

Fell into Juventino's trap, although I fell asleep during the Lazio match. Got to love Foxtel IQ, watched the rest of the game jsut now.... slaguhbtered, just like i said. Too strong all ov er the park in reality, but it really showed on the wings.

Having our 2 best full backs out made it a lot worse.

What you think of Diakite besides the autogol. I reckon he's gonna come good. Top prospect.

I like the kid, have ever since we poached him from Pescara scum. Every defender has those mooments, you cant be judged on them. He may have some nightmares about Zlatan though... still, good sized centre back and positioned himself well on most occasions.

I don't think our other 2 full backs would have done the job, anyone who thinks Maicon isn't the best right-back in the world... is obviously an EPL bandwagoner with no idea. The bloke is fast, skillful, great vision/positional sense, and goes up and down on the wing all day... absolute superstar.

[adriano10]

Maicon is slowly becoming just about my favourite player in world football...

i can't get enough of watching him play on the field in black and blue

[Piola]

I like the kid, have ever since we poached him from Pescara scum. Every defender has those mooments, you cant be judged on them. He may have some nightmares about Zlatan though... still, good sized centre back and positioned himself well on most occasions.

I don't think our other 2 full backs would have done the job, anyone who thinks Maicon isn't the best right-back in the world... is obviously an EPL bandwagoner with no idea. The bloke is fast, skillful, great vision/positional sense, and goes up and down on the wing all day... absolute superstar.

good to see you also rate Diakite highly. here's a little fact - all eyetalian journos and analysts had him as either our best or second best vs Inter. Goal.com had him as worst on ground. Does garganese even watch these games or just read the match reports.

Maicon is the best fullback fullstop but even still, starting Kolarov against him is like begging to be raped.

[Juventino]

So now Inter have made their two trips to Rome this season - I hope there is not a third.