Sunday September 18 2011, 2pm GMT
New-look Lazio make their first Serie A appearance in front of their home fans on Sunday. The team will bear a closer resemblance to that which drew 2-2 with AC Milan last Friday than the weaker line-up which drew 2-2 with Vaslui in the Europa League yesterday.
New signings Djibril Cissé, Miroslav Klose (both of whom scored in the San Siro last week) and Abdoulay Konko, coupled with the retention of star midfielders Hernanes and Cristian Ledesma, makes this season’s Lazio a formidable outfit. Edy Reja’s men had the second best defensive record in Italy last season, and the added firepower which the new signings bring will make them a more complete unit.
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Genoa also began their season with a 2-2 draw last week, in their case against newly-promoted Atalanta. Alberto Malesani took over as coach during the close-season, and while his vast experience should serve Genoa well, I doubt that this visit to the capital will be a happy one for him.
New Genoa signings Alexander Merkel and Ze Eduardo are expected to be unavailable due to injury, as is Lazio defender Stefan Radu.
Prediction – Lazio to win – 4pts
Match Odds: Lazio 7/10
Draw 12/5
Genoa 4/1
