Lazio v Juventus
Serie A Week 15 – Friday, 4th December- 19:45 GMT – Stadio Olimpico
Juventus
Thanks to the win in Palermo and the results of the other competitors, the gap from the top of the table is seven points. Juventus come off four consecutive wins: the comeback is officially on and there is a lot of time left. At this point, Napoli and Inter, which squared off in a very enjoyable Monday night match, are the most credible rivals, while Roma seem to have been affected by the Camp Nou blowout. However, things are fluid and rapidly changing, it is early to start worrying about the others’ performances, at least until there is not a breakaway from the leading pack.
The level of play by bianconeri is steadily improving: the Palermo game was very encouraging, even though it would have better to find the first goal earlier, but that is nitpicking. It was a very mature showing that indicates that the team has acquired enough confidence to manage games properly. The newcomers are getting more and more familiar with each others and with the veterans and the squad simply works better. The defensive phase was once again extremely good: this is not surprising considering that we were using 3-5-2, but it was not a given, especially if we look back at the first games of the season, where we struggled no matter the tactics. The main thing we have learnt from the last two games is that the formation is not really that important, we can play well with any of them.
Replacing Paul Pogba, who is suspended, is the main task for Massimiliano Allegri ahead of this match. It gets particular hard because of the paucity of midfielders at disposal: Sami Khedira will not be rushed back, Roberto Pereyra aggravated his hamstring injury and Hernanes is a couple of weeks away from returning. Kwadwo Asamoah and Mario Lemina are dealing with knee soreness but they have resumed training with the rest of the group. Asamoah has one more full practice under his belt, therefore he is the favourite to start, also because the coach stated last week that Lemina needs to be better in training. Allegri has ruled out the possibility of deploying 4-4-2, but he has opened to fielding Juan Cuadrado or Alex Sandro as box-to-box midfielders, if need be. We might see this solution tomorrow night if Asamoah and Lemina can not go or most likely as in-game adjustment. Simone Padoin is be the very last option, I guess.
3-5-2 should be the choice once again, with the usual doubts: on the flanks and in the attack. Allegri is not necessarily methodical in his rotation, but after fielding Juan Cuadrado and Patrice Evra on Sunday, Stephen Lichteiner and Alex Sandro should get the nod in this one. However, considering that Lazio’s forte is their wing game, a defense-first approach with both Lichtsteiner and Evra is possible. Upfront, Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic are the frontrunners: in this moment, Allegri seems to be in love with Mario’s work rate and form and Dybala’s movement and skills, so Alvaro Morata will need to pick up his game to re-gain the starting job.
Juventus have won eight of the last ten games against Lazio.
Probable lineup:
3-5-2: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Sturaro, Marchisio, Asamoah, Alex Sandro; Dybala, Mandzukic.
Injuries:
Khedira (hamstring), Pereyra (hamstring), Hernanes (hamstring).
Suspended:
Pogba.
Lazio
Lazio’s decline has been fast and surprising: they have collected only one point in the last five matches. They have always been poor on the road, they have beaten only the struggling Hellas Verona, but they compensated with an excellent home record. However, things snowballed in the last month and they dropped points twice in a row at Olimpico: first they were badly outplayed by Milan and then they salvaged a point against Torino. Dark clouds are gathering over Stefano Pioli’s head and further poor results could get him sacked.
It is hard to explain what went wrong. Surely losing Stefan De Vrij basically for the season was extremely hurtful as they do not have any other defensive leader in the roster. Half of the squad has been injured at some point and some players, primarily Antonio Candreva and Lucas Biglia, have underperformed. Still, they have so much talent that they should be overwhelmingly good in the attack and outscoring opponents should their calling card, but for some reasons they have never managed to get there.
Besides De Vrij, they will be without Senad Lulic who just underwent surgery to try to save a phalanx after and weight room accident, and Edy Onazi who is out with a hamstring ailment. Stefano Mauri has resumed practicing in a limited capacity after a small hernia procedure, anyway he does not have a big role in this year’s Lazio, and Dusan Basta has muscle fatigue: both are considered questionable for this game.
Pioli has used 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3, which are not particularly different because in the first option Sergej Milinkovic-Savic acts as advanced midfielder, mostly as a tactical weapon because he is built like a defensive stopper and is not very creative. He has some talent and a decent shooting range but his ideal role is probably in the midfield. 4-2-3-1 remains a strong possibility for this one, but they have recently tried, with mixed results, a third formation, the oldest of them all: 4-4-2 as their three strikers are finally healthy at the same time. They like to have Miroslav Klose, who has lost a couple of steps and some of his in-the-box prowess but still has great vision, as offensive playmaker alongside another forward. If 4-4-2 indeed ends up being the choice, Alessandro Matri has a slight edge over Filip Djordjevic. None of their wingers, which is the most exciting part of their roster, has been incredibly effective and therefore “undroppable”: Antonio Candreva and Felipe Anderson have started most of the games, but Keita Baldé and especially Ricardo Kishna have a strong chance to start.
Stefan Radu will replace Lulic as left back, while Abdoulay Konko would take Basta’s spot if the Serbian was not available. Santiago Gentiletti returns from a suspension and he is their most reliable option in the back. Mauricio has been bad but they prefer to have him instead of the unexperienced, but definitely more talented, Wesley Hoedt in big matches. Marco Parolo will flank Biglia in the midfield.
Probable lineup:
4-4-2: Marchetti; Basta, Mauricio, Gentiletti, Radu; Candreva, Biglia, Parolo, Felipe Anderson; Matri, Klose.
Injuries:
De Vrij (knee), Lulic (hand), Onazi (hamstring).
Suspended:
None
Formation
Stats and Facts
Solid work, Enrico…I see the squad has been chosen –
1 Buffon
3 Chiellini
7 Zaza
8 Marchisio
9 Morata
12 Alex Sandro
15 Barzagli
16 Cuadrado
17 Mandzukic
18 Lemina
19 Bonucci
20 Padoin
21 Dybala
22 Asamoah
24 Rugani
25 Neto
26 Lichtsteiner
27 Sturaro
33 Evra
34 Rubinho
40 Vitale
Great to see Vitale in there and hope he gets some minutes. as he has appeared very promising in his brief showings last term.
With Felipe Anderson on the left for Lazio, I am most hopeful that we do not deploy Cuadrado, who defensive value is close to zero and his work in the final third of late, has been rather aimless. And its laughable to consider him a box to box midfielder…Lichsteiner, Barzagli and Sturaro should keep that talented fiend Anderson quiet.
I’m not a big fan of Cuadrado, I hope they don’t buy him.
Me neither, ADP. he looked bright when we were playing horribly earlier this season, yet hardly a super star. And since the rest of the team has found some fitness and a hint of form, the Colombian has seem increasingly superfluous to our progression. Perhaps if we were playing a 4-4-2 he could be worth seriously considering, but we are not and I cannot see us moving to a formation with wingers. Always going to play with two up front I suspect and three in midfield, centrally. I’d always rather see Lichsteiner as a RWB. the price…21m?…seems way too much for a player whose form has been hardly astonishing for us, and was wretched for Chelsea. I’d rather push for Berradi in January, yet we won’t get him so maybe…see how Soriano is faring at that stage. And try move Hernanes on, but where and how eh?.
Good post GP.
Agreed, Berardi is the one we need to purchase. Don’t know about Soriano, not sure he is worth buying. Cuadrado is cool to have, but hardly a must-buy, unless he can improve his goals/assists/crosse.
It leads too often to nothing.
Hernanes should be sold immediately this January, I can’t remember any game where he was performing top notch. If not in January, try to involve him in the deal for Berardi, I guess Sassuolo would like Hernanes.. Not sure of this, they go for youth and Italians, but surely Hernanes would be a good addition for them?
I hope he goes for Asamoah or Lemina and not field Padoin as CM… Either one would be great to see on the field. Vitale too, but I don’t think he will get any chance.
Dybala, what can i say… He keeps getting better and better. I like this guy.
He’s great, I’m glad he’s playing well with Juve too.
i would also love to see Rugani get some minutes today.
Aah, the iconic Chiellini-bandage! It was about time to see it again.
Another game, another Dybala goal. Pure talent
The first half reminded me good old Juve, played great football, pressed high , realy high and scored goals, though lazio had their 10 mins of fame but we controled the game, 2nd half was more tactical from us, we let them play but was dangerous on counter, dybala – what a game what a goal, he was everywhere, sandro – another great performance, mario- fantastic first half, chiellini – couple of mistakes but otherwise he was like rock ! Napoli watch out! We are coming for you! Forza Juve!