Serie A Preview: Lazio - Siena

Serie A high-flyers Lazio host an unpredictable Siena side in the 11th round of Serie A on Sunday afternoon. Following their Tuscan derby win over Fiorentina last week, Siena will travel south full of confidence, but Lazio will surely be ready for another battle of attrition after their late victory over Catania.

Capital Gains

While the Giallorossi are enduring one of their worst Serie A starts for decades, on the blue side of the Tevere the story could not be more different. After picking up 19 points in the first 10 rounds the Biancocelesti have already equalled their points tally from last season’s half-way mark. Delio Rossi’s men have gifted him his best ever start to a Serie A campaign and are sitting just three points shy of the summit.

Despite being frustrated for 85 minutes against a resilient Catania side last Sunday, Lazio managed to take all three points and will be prepared for a similar test against Siena.  Lazio patron Claudio Lotito was pleased with the “never give in” attitude shown by his side as they searched for a breakthrough against Catania. Whilst the team was engulfed with in-fighting last season, the Biancocelesti have proven that their renewed team spirit has been the key to their impressive start.

Lazio will be keen to pick up a third consecutive victory for the first time this season. To do that, they will have to focus firmly on the game itself, instead of looking too far ahead at the looming derby against Roma.

Bianconeri Build From The Back

The Bianconeri are currently just three points off the safe haven of mid-table and will look to build on their confidence-boosting derby victory, with some rare points away from home.

Coach Marco Giampaolo will be keen to impress against his friend and former teacher Delio Rossi, for whom he worked as an assistant at Pescara. He will be pleased with the progression of his Siena side who have achieved their results with a compact backline that concedes little to their opposition. The team's lack of firepower should raise a little concern, however, and this must be addressed if they are to stay clear from the danger zone for a while longer.

After having seen how Lazio have fared this season at home to some of the so called ‘smaller clubs’, Siena will be optimistic that with an attentive approach to the game they have what it takes to provide a stern test for the Capital club.


FORM GUIDE

Lazio

2 November: Lazio 1-0 Catania

29 October: Chievo 1-2 Lazio

26 October: Lazio 0-1 Napoli

19 October: Bologna 3-1 Lazio

5 October: Lazio 1-1 Lecce

Siena

2 November: Siena 1-0 Fiorentina

29 October: Milan 2-1 Siena

25 October: Siena 1-1 Catania

19 October Genoa 1-0 Siena

5 October: Siena 1-0 Roma


TEAM NEWS

Lazio

With the Rome derby already on the horizon, Delio Rossi is expected to field a tinkered side, with the surprise inclusion of French defender Mobido Diakité. The Lazio tactician is set to rest Sebastiano Siviglia as well as Stefan Radu and Christian Brocchi who are both one suspension away from a ban. Goran Pandev is serving a one-match suspension after his fourth booking of the season.

Probable Starting XI: Carizzo; Lichtsteiner, Rozenhal, Diakité, Kolarov; Ledesma, Dabo, Mauri; Foggia, Rocchi, Zarate

Siena

Siena have had few injury worries in recent weeks but are still without the services of Daniele Ficagna and Nicola Belmonte; both are still training separately as they return from injury. The good news for Coach Giampaolo is that his side are suspension -free for the encounter.

Probable Starting XI: Curci; Zuniga, Rossettini, Portanova, Del Grosso; Vergassola, Codrea, Galloppa, Kharja; Frick, Maccarone


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Lazio jolly Pasquale Foggia was the hero for the Biancocelesti last Sunday as he came off the bench to score a late winner. With Pandev out through suspension he will have the chance of a rare start and will be keen to make an impression after stating this week that he “dreams of scoring a goal in the derby”. Should he put in another match-winning performance he will surely stake a claim for a starting place against the Giallorossi.

Siena hitman Massimo Maccarone is yet to find the net this season, but with his proven track record it is only a matter of time before he is firing again. The former Middlesbrough forward will fancy opening his account against a Lazio defence who have struggled this season, especially on set-pieces and quick counter-attacks.


PREDICTION

Lazio will be aware that Siena are extremely sparing at the back after having conceded less than a goal per game this season. The Aquilotti will look to score early to avoid a repeat of their laboured win over Catania. Siena will want to better the Sicilians' performance, looking to close down all available space as they search for some precious points away from home. Three out of the five previous meetings in Rome between the two sides have ended in a draw, and it may prove to be another difficult afternoon for the home side.

Lazio 1-1 Siena
 
Stefano Federici