Lazio aim to maintain unlikely lead

Lazio host Cagliari this weekend looking to maintain a stunning start to the season that has left them leading Milan neighbours Inter and AC by two points.

The Rome club have five wins and just one defeat from seven games, but Sunday’s clash against the Sardinians is a must-win fixture if they are to maintain hopes of finishing among the Champions League places in May.

Lazio’s urgency for a win is all the more pressing as both Milan clubs face theoretically more difficult opponents, Inter hosting Sampdoria on Sunday and Milan travelling to Napoli for the game of the weekend on Monday.

Milan were totally outplayed by Champions League group opponents Real Madrid in midweek and coach Massimiliano Allegri will be looking for an immediate reaction.

The rumour is that he will give Ronaldinho a break, the Brazilian apparently tired after his early season exertions.

That could mean Allegri adopting a more conservative formation or playing his other Brazilians, Pato and Robinho, either side of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Many experts in Italy believe Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng will likely be promoted to the starting line-up to bring a bit of steel to the team.

Allegri said his players played as if it was a friendly on Tuesday night at the Bernabeu and Boateng brings a combativeness polished in the English Premier League with Tottenham and then Portsmouth.

Champions Inter also have a tricky clash at home to Sampdoria, although they have the advantage of having had one more day’s rest than their opponents, who played in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Inter also boast the most prolific striker in the country at the moment in Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o.

He notched two more goals in Wednesday’s 4-3 Champions League victory against Spurs to take his tally to the season to 14 goals in 12 games in all competitions.

Eto’o is benefitting from an injury to Diego Milito that has seen coach Rafael Benitez play him in a central striking role rather than on the flanks, and the result has been an avalanche of goals.

But the Cameroonian shied away from suggestions he’s the best player in Serie A.

“That’s an exaggeration. It’s true that I like playing closer to the goal, that’s where I’ve always played,” he said.

“I’m feeling good and it’s important to be happy.”

However, he insisted that last season’s role on the left wing, where then coach Jose Mourinho played him, has helped him develop as a player.

“I will never stop thanking Mourinho, he’s unique, he made me discover a different position,” he said.

“I never imagined that I could play there. He made me more complete and this gives me more security.

“Last year I won a lot and I also feel positive this season.”

In other games, fifth-placed Juventus will attempt to continue their climb towards the business end of the table as they travel to Bologna.

AS Roma will try to bounce back from their shock 3-1 home defeat to FC Basel in the Champions League on Tuesday as they play away to Parma.

Roma are still maintaining their media boycott as they try to turn around a disastrous start to the season that saw them sitting in the bottom three before last weekend’s defeat of Genoa.

Fixtures:

Saturday

Fiorentina v Bari

Sunday

Parma v AS Roma, Bologna v Juventus, Chievo v Cesena, Genoa v Catania, Lazio v Cagliari, Lecce v Brescia, Udinese v Palermo, Inter Milan v Sampdoria

Monday

Napoli v AC Milan