Edy Reja received a huge welcome from the Napoli fans last week as expected, but he won’t have been heartened by the result of the game which followed.
Lazio had only scored eleven goals in the fourteen away games which preceded this one, but they put four past Napoli - in a stadium where away teams usually struggle to score one - and still lost the game because one of their goals was mistakenly not allowed by the officials (if you’re don’t know the goal I’m referring to, see the football blog page).
Parma are desperate for points if they are to avoid the relegation dogfight. The 2-1 defeat to bottom side Bari last Sunday was their second in three games, and it spelled the end for coach Pasquale Marino. Former Bologna coach Franco Colomba has been appointed in his place, so this visit to the capital will be Colomba’s first game in charge.
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| Lazio club captain Tomasso Rocchi is nearing a return from injury |
Lazio will be missing the suspended Giuseppe Biava, Stafano Mauri and Francesco Matuzalem, but midfielder Cristian Ledesma and defender Stefan Radu both return to the squad. Playmaker Hernanez, who was surprisingly dropped for the Napoli game, will have a point to prove if he starts this game.
Lazio have a solid home record, and if their bitter rivals Roma can do them a favour by beating Udinese on Saturday they could move into fourth place by beating Parma. It won’t be easy for the Biancoceleste, as Parma’s players will want to impress their new boss and to avoid falling into the relegation battle. However if Lazio can re-capture the flair they showed last week they will claim all three points here.
Prediction – Lazio to win – 3pts
Match odds: Lazio 8/11
Draw 23/10
Parma 4/1
Lazio: Last 5 Serie A Results
03.04.2011 – Napoli 4-3 Lazio
19.03.2011 – Lazio 1-0 Cesena
13.03.2011 – Roma 2-0 Lazio
06.03.2011 – Lazio 2-0 Palermo
27.02.2011 – Cagliari 1-0 Lazio
Parma: Last 5 Serie A Results
03.04.2011 – Parma 1-2 Bari
20.03.2011 – Sampdoria 0-1 Parma
13.03.2011 – Parma 1-3 Napoli
06.03.2011 – Chievo 0-0 Parma
27.02.2011 – Roma 2-2 Parma
