Lazio have been tipped to hold the balance of power in Sunday's derby della capitale against Roma, Franco Colomba said.
Colomba, a former Serie A coach with Bologna, believes Lazio will increase their influence in Rome by beating their historic city rivals.
"I say Lazio. The Biancocelesti are in a good moment of form and they have high morale, whereas Roma are off the back of two big losses," Colomba said again.
"It won't be easy for Roma to recover after their loss against Shakhtar Donetsk, especially in the face of such a delicate clash. But, keep an eye on Roma as it is the derby."
Roma are looking for a lift, and Colomba believes club legend Francesco Totti will provide the hoist.
"I expect a big performance from Totti. He has the obligation to make up for recent derbies which have escaped him, and thus he can drag his team forward," he said.
Kamis, 10 Maret 2011
Lazio's Mauro Zarate: Derby Against Roma Is More Than Just A Game
Zarate is gearing himself up for the derby between Roma and Lazio.
Lazio striker Mauro Zarate has said that he is looking forward to mustering all three points against city-rivals Roma in their derby in Serie A at the weekend.
The Aquile are currently fourth in the table and are five points ahead of their arch-rivals, who are stationed in sixth position. Lazio have been inconsistent in the new year while Roma are coming off the back of a 3-0 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League in Ukraine on Tuesday evening.
Zarate, though, is confident of a victory over the Lupi and told Lazio Style Radio, “I hope to play a great game and if I score then I’ll go to celebrate under the Curva Nord.
“We promise our fans that we’ll do our best, as for us the derby is far more than just an important game, especially as we lost the last four.
“If all goes as planned, then a win over Roma would leave them eight points behind us. There is only one result for Lazio: victory.
“Don’t forget we also need points to stay in the Champions League race. We don’t wish to lose fourth place and in fact want to push for third.”
The Argentine also played down suggestions of a feud between him and coach Edy Reja and explained, “The fans are really firing me up for this derby and I am ready to make any sacrifice for Lazio.
“If the coach makes me take the free kicks, then I can even go in goal. I don’t mind working for the team, just as I did against Palermo.
“I spoke to Reja and must say I have a good rapport with him.”
Lazio striker Mauro Zarate has said that he is looking forward to mustering all three points against city-rivals Roma in their derby in Serie A at the weekend.
The Aquile are currently fourth in the table and are five points ahead of their arch-rivals, who are stationed in sixth position. Lazio have been inconsistent in the new year while Roma are coming off the back of a 3-0 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League in Ukraine on Tuesday evening.
Zarate, though, is confident of a victory over the Lupi and told Lazio Style Radio, “I hope to play a great game and if I score then I’ll go to celebrate under the Curva Nord.
“We promise our fans that we’ll do our best, as for us the derby is far more than just an important game, especially as we lost the last four.
“If all goes as planned, then a win over Roma would leave them eight points behind us. There is only one result for Lazio: victory.
“Don’t forget we also need points to stay in the Champions League race. We don’t wish to lose fourth place and in fact want to push for third.”
The Argentine also played down suggestions of a feud between him and coach Edy Reja and explained, “The fans are really firing me up for this derby and I am ready to make any sacrifice for Lazio.
“If the coach makes me take the free kicks, then I can even go in goal. I don’t mind working for the team, just as I did against Palermo.
“I spoke to Reja and must say I have a good rapport with him.”
Giornata 28,SS.Lazio 2-0 US Citta di Palermo
Lazio climbed back into fourth place by beating Palermo and handing their new coach Serse Cosmi a defeat on his debut.
Giuseppe Sculli scored twice for Lazio in the opening 18 minutes to fire the Romans into a comfortable lead at the Stadio Olimpico.
Palermo struggled again in front of goal and could not find a way back into the game.
Lazio had fallen into fifth place, out of the Champions League spots, after Udinese's 1-0 victory over Bari earlier on Sunday.
However, the outcome in Rome has lifted Lazio one point clear of Udinese with 10 games remaining.
Palermo, meanwhile, have dropped to eighth in the standings after a fourth straight defeat and Cosmi's first.
Cosmi took over earlier this week after the Palermo board finally lost patience with Delio Rossi following the 7-0 home humiliation by Udinese last weekend.
Cosmi experimented with a 3-5-1-1 formation with Javier Pastore playing behind Abel Hernandez in attack.
The visitors were on the back foot in the early stages as Lazio swarmed forward and went in front in the seventh minute.
Cristian Ledesma served Sculli inside the area and his right-footed strike towards the far post beat Palermo goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.
Palermo had little time to react as the hosts doubled their lead in the 18th minute.
Lazio capitalised on a mistake by Sirigu when he failed to clear Ledesma's cross and Sculli headed home his second of the night.
It took Palermo 24 minutes to create a chance of note and even then Hernandez's 18-yard effort went wide of the far post.
Palermo came close to reducing the deficit in the half-hour mark.
However, Lazio goalkeeper Fernando Muslera made an acrobatic save from Pastore's close-range header.
Before the interval, Hernanes warmed the palms of Sirigu with a stinding drive from outside the area.
Lazio coach Edy Reja was forced to make a substitution early in the second half with Alvaro Gonzalez replacing the injured Sculli.
Shortly after the hour-mark, Mattia Cassani slotted a pass across the box but could not find a Palermo team-mate.
An unmarked Guglielmo Stendardo should have made it 3-0 with 10 minutes to go but his close-range header from Ledesma's cross went off target.
With one minutes remaining, Palermo substitute Michele Paolucci drilled his low shot wide of the far post in what was the last chance of the game.
Giuseppe Sculli scored twice for Lazio in the opening 18 minutes to fire the Romans into a comfortable lead at the Stadio Olimpico.
Palermo struggled again in front of goal and could not find a way back into the game.
Lazio had fallen into fifth place, out of the Champions League spots, after Udinese's 1-0 victory over Bari earlier on Sunday.
However, the outcome in Rome has lifted Lazio one point clear of Udinese with 10 games remaining.
Palermo, meanwhile, have dropped to eighth in the standings after a fourth straight defeat and Cosmi's first.
Cosmi took over earlier this week after the Palermo board finally lost patience with Delio Rossi following the 7-0 home humiliation by Udinese last weekend.
Cosmi experimented with a 3-5-1-1 formation with Javier Pastore playing behind Abel Hernandez in attack.
The visitors were on the back foot in the early stages as Lazio swarmed forward and went in front in the seventh minute.
Cristian Ledesma served Sculli inside the area and his right-footed strike towards the far post beat Palermo goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.
Palermo had little time to react as the hosts doubled their lead in the 18th minute.
Lazio capitalised on a mistake by Sirigu when he failed to clear Ledesma's cross and Sculli headed home his second of the night.
It took Palermo 24 minutes to create a chance of note and even then Hernandez's 18-yard effort went wide of the far post.
Palermo came close to reducing the deficit in the half-hour mark.
However, Lazio goalkeeper Fernando Muslera made an acrobatic save from Pastore's close-range header.
Before the interval, Hernanes warmed the palms of Sirigu with a stinding drive from outside the area.
Lazio coach Edy Reja was forced to make a substitution early in the second half with Alvaro Gonzalez replacing the injured Sculli.
Shortly after the hour-mark, Mattia Cassani slotted a pass across the box but could not find a Palermo team-mate.
An unmarked Guglielmo Stendardo should have made it 3-0 with 10 minutes to go but his close-range header from Ledesma's cross went off target.
With one minutes remaining, Palermo substitute Michele Paolucci drilled his low shot wide of the far post in what was the last chance of the game.
Giornata 27,Cagliari 1-0 SS.Lazio
Lazio's five-match unbeaten run came to an end this afternoon as Andre Dias' own goal condemned them to defeat at Cagliari.
Defender Dias put through his own net in the 40th minute and that proved the difference between the sides at the Stadio Sant' Elia.
The visitors had a hatful of chances to equalise but found Cagliari goalkeeper in Michael Agazzi in inspired form.
Lazio stayed fourth in the Serie A standings despite the loss, but just one point clear of Udinese who thrashed Palermo 7-0 in Sicily.
Cagliari, meanwhile, have taken a giant step towards retaining their top-flight status, climbing to ninth on 38 points.
The hosts were on the front foot from the start, Nene's header from Gabriele Perico's cross going wide.
At the other end, Agazzi kept out Libor Kozak's powerful header from Cristian Ledesma's cross.
Agazzi was called on again to make a save in the 36th minute. He managed to get a touch to clear Hernanes' bullet strike from 30 yards.
Cagliari finally went in front five minutes before the interval. Lazio goalkeeper Tommaso Berni did well to clear Robert Acquafresca's shot but the ball ricocheted off Dias' knee and went over the line.
Lazio surged forward more aggressively in the second half and Agazzi was forced to fully stretch to clear Ledesma's 30-yard volley.
Shortly after the hour mark, Francesco Matuzalem fed Hernanes on the edge of the area and his strike towards the far post was saved by Agazzi.
In the 85th minute, Berni kept Lazio in the game with a fine save from Simone Missiroli's eight-yard shot.
Cagliari defended deeply and the visitors were reduced to long-range efforts.
With two minutes to go, substitute Mauro Zarate tried his luck from outside the area but his attempt was again kept out by Agazzi in what was the last chance of the game.
Defender Dias put through his own net in the 40th minute and that proved the difference between the sides at the Stadio Sant' Elia.
The visitors had a hatful of chances to equalise but found Cagliari goalkeeper in Michael Agazzi in inspired form.
Lazio stayed fourth in the Serie A standings despite the loss, but just one point clear of Udinese who thrashed Palermo 7-0 in Sicily.
Cagliari, meanwhile, have taken a giant step towards retaining their top-flight status, climbing to ninth on 38 points.
The hosts were on the front foot from the start, Nene's header from Gabriele Perico's cross going wide.
At the other end, Agazzi kept out Libor Kozak's powerful header from Cristian Ledesma's cross.
Agazzi was called on again to make a save in the 36th minute. He managed to get a touch to clear Hernanes' bullet strike from 30 yards.
Cagliari finally went in front five minutes before the interval. Lazio goalkeeper Tommaso Berni did well to clear Robert Acquafresca's shot but the ball ricocheted off Dias' knee and went over the line.
Lazio surged forward more aggressively in the second half and Agazzi was forced to fully stretch to clear Ledesma's 30-yard volley.
Shortly after the hour mark, Francesco Matuzalem fed Hernanes on the edge of the area and his strike towards the far post was saved by Agazzi.
In the 85th minute, Berni kept Lazio in the game with a fine save from Simone Missiroli's eight-yard shot.
Cagliari defended deeply and the visitors were reduced to long-range efforts.
With two minutes to go, substitute Mauro Zarate tried his luck from outside the area but his attempt was again kept out by Agazzi in what was the last chance of the game.
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