Monday’s victory over Pescara wasn’t just three points for Lazio, but the first time the club had taken three points from a league match in over a month.
Everybody at the club will be relieved to have found winning ways again after such a dreadful run in form. Despite picking up just two points in five matches before Monday’s match, Lazio have somehow managed to keep a grasp onto third place.
Going into a tough month of fixtures in March, the team had an opportunity against lowly Pescara to gain some much needed confidence. The game never really looked in doubt as the Biancoceleste took a hold of the game straight from the kick-off.
Two wonderful strikes from Stefan Radu and Senad Lulic sealed the points for Lazio, and the Bosnian winger stated after the match that “In football there are good times and bad, but today I am certainly happy with the goal and the victory which is very important to us.”
There were also many other positives to take from Mondays match with the Delfini. The emergence in form from Lulic has been pleasing. The 27-year-old has struggled this term to find a consistent form, but lately his presence on the pitch has been very productive, and the coach will be more than happy that sticking by the youngster is starting to pay off.
After the failed implication of a three man defence away to Siena the previous week, a four man defence was expected from Petkovic this time around. Slotting in to back-line once more was Lorik Cana. The industrious Albanian who usually plays as a defensive midfielder has adapted to his new role as centre-back like a duck to water, and has given the coach another useful option for that position.
Abdoulay Konko will be side-lined for at least a month due to ligament damage on his knee. The Frenchman limped off after just six minutes on Monday. Replacing Konko on the right side of defence was January acquisition Bruno Pereirinha.
The Portuguese defender did relatively well and is expected to start against Milan this Saturday. Although the opposition of Pescara perhaps wasn’t enough to judge the player on, we will soon see if he his cut out for Serie A on Saturday when challenging the Rossoneri.
Bad news this week for Lazio has come in the way of Uefa. After recent incidents regarding fan behaviour, the club has been told it will have to play two matches behind closed doors, starting with VfB Stuttgart at the Stadio Olimpico on March 14th.
‘Diabolik’, the leader of the Curva Nord stated that: “There were about 200 people over 25 thousand present at the stadium who did the salute. The Roman salute is a gesture and not fascist, and it also symbolizes other meaning.
“I would like appeal against Uefa, that for example during the Euro 2012 in Ukraine, they killed thousands of stray dogs for its economic interests.
“They would have to shut down the entire city to prevent us from being present in the match against VfB Stuttgart, La Curva Nord will be present and will be out there, we don’t care about these absurd laws. We will bring the stadium megaphones that have become fundamental, to address supporters and warn them of the risks.”
Lazio travel north to face Milan this Saturday, and the coach is hoping of a confident showing from his team. Expected to keep the same formation that dismantled Pescara, Lazio will hope to prove to their recent critics that they can win matches without the injured Miroslav Klose. The win against Pescara was the first time that three points had been taken since the absence of Klose began.
In the build-up to Saturday’s crucial fixture, Hernanes told Lazio Style Radio that, “At the weekend we have another very important game, one that will be decisive. There are only two months left this season, so from now on every match will be decisive and can define our path in this campaign.”
Follow Ben on Twitter: @Lazio_UK
