Lazio plot the great escape

(GSM) – If SS Lazio’s season has taken the unexpected wrong turn, then their next league fixture of hosting striking powerhouse Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico was not what coach Davide Ballardini would want, during this time of the season.

If the Aquile lose on Sunday, it will be the first time this season which will see them drop into the Serie A relegation zone.

After a narrow 1-0 lose against city rivals Roma last weekend, the side has now extended their winless run to 13 games.

That series of dismal results has left them in 16th, two places and one point clear of the bottom three.

However, Lazio’s performance against Roma gave under-fire coach Davide Ballardini a glimmer of hope.

“My team gave a convincing performance at Roma,” said Ballardini.

“Of course, it didn’t help us in terms of the standings, but I’m sure if we continue to play like this good results will come our way.

“We have to come out of this difficult situation and we must do this by showing the same determination and character my players displayed at Roma.

“We have two games left to play before the Christmas break and we have to give everything to improve our current position in the standings, starting on Sunday.”

Biancoceleste captain Tommaso Rocchi knows his team-mates must get their act together if they wish to succeed at the Stadio Olimpico and clinch their first victory since August 30.

“We are aware that only through work, sweat and sacrifice we will be able to come out of this difficult situation,” he said.

“We have the potential to do it but from now on, each game for us is a final.

“We face Genoa on Sunday but it doesn’t matter who we face because our only aim is to come out triumphant on Sunday.”

Ballardini will be desperate for attacking duo Rocchi and Mauro Zarate to deliver, with Lazio having failed to find the back of the net in their last three league games.

Fortunately for Lazio, Genoa have struggled on the road of late. The Grifoni have claimed just one point in their last three outings.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s side go into the encounter in Rome on the back of a 2-2 draw to Parma which saw the team climb to seventh in the standings.

Genoa will need little extra motivation to beat Lazio with a Champions League spot now within their grasp.

The Grifoni are one point and three spots behind fourth-placed Parma.

“We are playing against a team desperate to bounce back,” said Genoa goalkeeper Marco Amelia. “But we are in good form and we travel to the Stadio Olimpico looking to bring home three points.”

Ballardini will be forced to make some changes to the team that lost to Roma with Matuzalem having joined Sebastiano Siviglia, Christian Manfredini and Stefano Mauri in the injury list.

To add to Ballardini’s woes, Stefano Mauri, Roberto Baronio and Julio Cruz serve a one-match ban this weekend.

Genoa welcome back defenders Giuseppe Biava and Sokratis Papastathopoulos from suspension.

However, the visitors will be without Bosko Jankovic, Houssine Kharja and Andrea Esposito, who are still sidelined through injury.