Lazio vs Juventus at Stadio Olimpico
Serie A Lazio face Juventus at tjis 13 round on Stadio Olimpico 26 Nov 2011 (19.45 GMT)
The Old Lady were in impressive form last weekend against Palermo. Having not played a competitive match for 22 days after their Napoli clash was postponed, there were fears that the Bianconeri could be somewhat rusty. Instead, they overpowered the Rosanero to remain the only unbeaten side in the Division.
Lazio did take on the Azzurri at the San Paolo on Saturday and came away with a vital point, mainly thanks to the goalkeeping heroics of FedericoMarchetti. The summer signing from Cagliari insisted his performance was one of the best of his career and he’s kept a clean sheet in their last three games.
As much as the capital club have been impressive this term, their home form is not what Reja would have wanted. Easily the best team on their travels inSerie A this term, the Biancocelesti have won just two of their five matches at the Olimpico so far.
Reja will probably be without key defender Andre Dias and Stefano Mauri will definitely be out, but Miroslav Klose will return from injury. The German striker has netted six in 10 League games. He’ll be much needed, especially asDjibril Cisse hasn’t scored since the first game of the season back on September 2. It’s a lack of form that could see him dropped for TommasoRocchi.
Conte, meanwhile, has no injury concerns apart from Pirlo and is unlikely to make any changes to the rest of the team that beat Palermo. That means there will again be no place for Milos Krasic or Eljero Elia, while FabioQuagliarella will be ready to come off the bench if needed. Juve have won two of their four away games this term and have conceded just two goals away from Turin so far.
The League record between these two sides in Rome is pretty equal. Laziohave 24 wins and 87 goals in 67 games, Juve have scored 90 goals and collected 26 wins. There have been 17 draws. The Old Lady have won the last two of these meetings – 1-0 and 2-0.
Gianluca Rocchi will referee the match which may be good news for Juve. In his five Serie A matches so far this term, there has been one draw and four away wins…
Keep an eye on: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus) – The right-back left Laziofor Juve in a €10.5m deal over the summer. The Swiss international has been a massive success so far, with his marauding forward runs giving the Old Lady an extra attacking weapon.
Form guide: Lazio (W D W W D) Juventus (D D W W W)
Last season: Lazio 0-1 Juventus
Stat fact: If you add Lazio’s home goals in Serie A to Juve’s away strikes you get nine. Add Lazio’s away goals to Juve’s home ones and you get 25! What a shame the game is in Rome and not Turin…
Lazio (probable): Marchetti; Konko, Diakite, Biava, Radu; Brocchi, Ledesma, Lulic; Hernanes; Cisse, Klose
Juventus (probable): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, De Ceglie; Pirlo; Pepe, Vidal, Marchisio, Vucinic; Matri
