Post by Taxigirl on Dec 19, 2003 9:57:13 GMT
Live on British Eurosport (Kick off 7.30pm UK time)
Stadio Olimpico
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There are always fireworks in this encounter and this year it reads as a test for both team and Coach. Alberto Zaccheroni has revolutionised Inter’s fortunes in Serie A and put them right back in the Scudetto chase, pushing Lazio out of the top four places.
He comes face to face with his former club and the man who may yet replace him, as Roberto Mancini has long been held in high esteem by Nerazzurri patron Massimo Moratti. Reports continue to maintain that Zac is only warming the bench for Mancini’s arrival in the summer, but Dejan Stankovic could well make that trip up north early. The Serbian midfielder may even have played his last game for the Roman club, as he is suspended for this match and is likely to be sold in January.
There have been some very memorable games here, not least the now infamous May 5 2002. Hector Cuper was 90 minutes away from earning Inter’s first Scudetto in a decade, only to see his men crumble 4-2 at the Olimpico. Curiously, Zaccheroni was on the Biancocelesti bench to create one of the worst days in Inter’s history.
Last season there were also six goals, but divided up in a spectacular 3-3 draw that included two stunning Emre Belozoglu strikes. If Inter really have put their fear of the big clubs behind them – as shown by the 3-1 drubbing of Juventus – then this will be a very attacking game from both sides.
Mancini has a host of problems leading up to this showdown, as he is without Stankovic and the injured Cesar, Claudio Lopez, Giuliano Giannichedda, Sinisa Mihajlovic, Angelo Peruzzi and Simone Inzaghi.
The striker is the latest addition to this list, as he fractured his hand and will be out for up to two months. This leaves Lazio with only two strikers at their disposal, Roberto Muzzi and ex-Inter man Bernardo Corradi. His time at the San Siro was brief and he will be eager to prove they were a little too hasty in letting him go.
Inter have notched up a stunning six consecutive Serie A wins, but like Lazio could not prevent an early exit from the Champions’ League. The 2-0 victory at Bologna last week showed that the team can be just as effective without Christian Vieri, who started from the bench in favour of Julio Cruz, Alvaro Recoba and Obafemi Martins. However, the former Lazio star will be expected to start after that rest period.
There are also injury problems in the Nerazzurri camp, as Daniele Adani underwent surgery for a fractured nose after an accidental collision in Bologna. With Marco Materazzi, Thomas Helveg, Cristiano Zanetti and Francesco Coco already out of action, Adani will try to take the field with the aid of a protective mask. If the medical staff do not clear him in time, then Paraguayan international Carlos Gamarra will take over in central defence.
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Lazio (probable): Sereni; Stam, Negro, Couto, Favalli; Albertini, Dabo, Liverani; Fiore, Corradi, Muzzi
Inter (probable) : Toldo; Cordoba, Gamarra, Cannavaro; J Zanetti, Almeyda, Lamouchi, Kily Gonzalez; Cruz, Vieri, Van der Meyde
