Lazio Preview

By: Tim | October 3rd, 2009

Hopefully the Viola will be able to keep the momentum rolling as Lazio come to the Franchi tomorrow. The baby blues are a difficult opponent, and their hammering of Leviski Sofia will probably boost their confidence after a middling beginning to the Serie A campaign.

I’m going to have to make this one brief, as I’m exhausted from a training ride to get ready for a century next weekend. It is also a beautiful day here in DC, and I’m looking forward to heading over to RFK for the DCU game with some buddies to grill, drink beer, enjoy the weather and hopefully a decent match. So, I apologize for not being able to match Ted’s eloquence, but then again, not many are able to pull that off.

Team News:

The Viola will be without Comotto and Santana due to minor injuries, and Dainelli will have to miss due to his red card against Livorno. Gilardino will return to the starting lineup, Kroldrup will deputize for Dainelli (so watch out Lazio strikers since the big Dane will surely be out there hacking as usual), and Lorenzo De Silvestri will get an opportunity to face off against his old teammates.

For the visitors, Cruz is not healthy enough to start, neither is Brocchi and of course Pandev is still exiled from the first team squad. A lot will fall onto the shoulders of Mauro Zarate, and he will be the key man for the Viola defense to pay attention to.

Lineups, aka Blind Guess Dept:

Fiorentina: I think Cesare needs to run out all three of Mutu, Gila Monster and Jo-Jo. With Santana injured and Marchionni having played lots of games recently, I think the lack of true wingers means that Cesare should give the 4-3-1-2 a shot.

Bassy; Pasqual, Gamberini, Kroldrup, De Silvestri; Vargas, Zanetti, RickyMonty; Jo-Jo; Mutu, Gila Monster.

Baby Blues: (4-4-2)

Muslera; Lichsteiner, Cribari, Radu, Del Nero; Dabo, Baronio, Mauri, Matuzalem; Rocchi, Zarate

TeeVee?

FSC is going with the Roma-Napoli matchup, so it looks like internet streams it is. Kickoff is at 9am EST.

Prediction Time:

I think Fiorentina have this one – 3-0. Mutu, Gila Monster and RickyMonty (gonna keep picking him to score with the hople that he’s performances continue to improve).