Perugia v Lazio Official thread

[MarieL]

It's now or never! If we don't win this game we're pretty much screwed. The team has played way better away this season and I really hope they continue doing so.

[CHRISTOS]

I'm very sad for previews results, i hope S.S. LAZIO return the smiles in our faces.

FORZA LAZIO!!!!!!!!!!!

[MarieL]

from soccerage

02/28/2003. BACKGROUND

Perugia will be bidding to recover from a rare home defeat last week when they take on Lazio.

The Grifoni went down 2-1 to Parma, conceding both of their goals from set-pieces. Some would have questioned goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac on the first goal (a ferocious free-kick from Adriano), although the fans will be desperately hoping the Australian is fit, as veteran stopper Sebastiano Rossi is injured.

For Serse Cosmi's men the Uefa Cup is still a realistic target, even if many fear they may just come up a little short. If they have any aspirations of playing in Europe next season, they'll surely need to keep Fabrizio Miccoli fit and firing on all cylinders.

Lazio would have loved to have played in Europe this week, but their second-leg Uefa Cup tie with Wisla Krakow was called off due to a frozen pitch. The Biancocelesti must now play next Wednesday, hardly ideal preparation for the Rome derby.

Roberto Mancini's men, it must be said, have been unlucky in recent weeks, and their relatively poor run of results do not tell the full story. They are still creating a number of chances and are either not taking them, or converting them, only to concede goals at the other end.


FORM GUIDE

Perugia: Last Six Matches: WLDWDL

Inconsistency reins. Cosmi's side have collected home wins over Chievo and Milan, but have been held at Empoli, and beaten by Reggina and Parma.

Lazio: Last Six Matches: DLDDDD

Serie A draws against Chievo (1-1), Torino (1-1), Milan (2-2) and Atalanta (0-0) have seen the Biancocelesti drop off the title pace.


LATEST TEAM NEWS

Perugia: Obodo should return to the side, although the Grifoni face a goalkeeping crisis if Kalac is ruled out my injury. Stand-in Rossi is also sidelined, so Tardioli could play. Viali is out.

Lazio: Peruzzi, Mihajlovic and Stankovic are all set to miss out through injury, while Giannichedda is suspended. Liverani should again deputise for Stankovic if he isn't fit. Simeone will get a spot in the midfield.


PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Perugia (3-5-2): Tardioli or Kalac, Sogliano, Di Loreto, Milanese, Ze Maria, Tedesco, Obodo, Blasi, Grosso, Miccoli, Vryzas

Lazio (4-4-2): Marchegiani, Pancaro, Negro, Stam, Favalli, Fiore, Simeone, Liverani, Cesar, Corradi, Lopez


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Fabrizio Miccoli (Perugia): the little striker could be a real asset against a Lazio defense that tends to lack pace.

Claudio Lopez (Lazio): the Argentine is having his best season since moving to Serie A, and is near the top of the goalscoring charts.

[ahmed]

2-1 for perugia till now:rolleyes:

[MarieL]

2-2 thanks to Negro. But a draw again!!! This is starting to be like a sick joke or something!!! According to soccerage the penalty was really a joke and Corradi hit the post not to mention the missed chances from the rest of our strikers... When will our luck turn? :(

[valdanito_10]

i can tell u one thing, thatwas not a penalty

[INTER_MILAN14]

Well, after today I dont have to much confidence in my beloved Inter to win lo scudetto...its certain they wont if they continue to play this way even with all our injuries...so...FORZA LAZIO!!!! TORNATE A VINCERE...i'd rather see you guys win scudetto again then juve milan or roma

[Severus]

lazio won't win. they have to learn to consistently beat the smaller teams because defeating le grande isn't always the key to winning.

it's gonna be juve or milan.

[romansky]

The replay clearly shows that Tedesco was not fouled, but all credit to our guys for earning the point. It's a bit frustrating with another draw, once again we hit the woodwork at least a couple of times, Chiesa in the 2nd half. What a disadvantage to play the Wisla match on Wednesday when they should be resting for i lupi next weekend.

[romansky]

Originally posted by Severus
lazio won't win. they have to learn to consistently beat the smaller teams because defeating le grande isn't always the key to winning.

it's gonna be juve or milan.

Right, after today Lazio needs to be looking over their shoulder instead of ahead, we are now only 1 point clear of Chievo. Perugia is no slouch these day but it's true that Lazio has played to the calibre of the opposition since the winter break, & we've dropped so many vital points against the likes of Toro & Reggina to name to name two.

[Severus]

i know this may not be saying much but lazio IMO have a more realistic chance of winning lo scudetto than inter for sure.

[MarieL]

Well I'm not expecting Lazio to win lo scudetto but Inter really doesn't have a chance either if they keep on playing that terrible football they showed yesterday. I'm sorry to say this but I think it's gonna be Juve again. Feel free to prove me wrong though!
Anyway, Lazio still hasn't lost away and there's only few away games left, maybe we should try to keep it that way. But now I'm just hoping we keep the 4th spot!

[valdanito_10]

i jsut hoppe lazio can climb up the l;adder now and keep hold of the second place or 3rd as 4th is too risky specially when u have chievo one point ahead

[Darran]

I just hope for a CL spot, but we must climb out of this drawing syndrome if we are to achieve that CL spot. We need to start winning and with Chievo and Udinese close behind, we must really buck up

[Severus]

udine will fade they always do.

ye gotta watch out for chievo and hope to catch inter for 3rd which is very possible.

[valdanito_10]

i have never been surprised by inters perfomance!



the guys have a great team but they are weak on one area!

inter lack a creative center midfielder a veron or a ronaldhino that can organise the teams attacks.

i have always got along with the inter people but this is no way of causing trouble im just triying to point out what i think inter miss to be the inter it once was!


what lazio needs is a smart mancini! and a full squad available to him!

deki and simeone should play center mid always and control the game

[Severus]

the inter it once was ? what are you going back about 15 years ?

[MarieL]

They used to win scudetti but now...they just lack that one last thing! I'm still sorry they didn't win last year but it was their own fault. If you let the opponent score 4 times what do you expect?
I don't know if they had played better lately with Crespo but I doubt that. Even though I don't want bad things for Inter the competition is tough and I want to go 3rd at least!