Lazio weakened for Reja’s return to Napoli

Lazio will be without a pair of key players for the crucial trip to Napoli today as coach Edy Reja looks to put one over his former employers.

Lazio sit behind leaders Udinese on goal difference and face a stern test of their title credentials in Naples this evening.

And they will have to make do without hot-shot Miroslav Klose as well as defender Andre Dias.

The loss of Klose, with a severely bruised leg, is most damaging for the capital club as he was on fire in Germany’s 3-0 victory against Holland in midweek, scoring one and setting up both the other goals.

He is the club’s top scorer with eight goals in 13 matches in all competitions and Reja certainly would have been counting on the German for the trip to the club he brought back into Serie A in 2007.

However, the journey to Naples holds painful memories for Lazio, who lost 4-3 there last season.

“The first thing that comes to mind is the goal that wasn’t and, even more bitterly, the defeat that prevented us from playing in a great competition, the Champions League,” said Lazio’s veteran midfielder Cristian Brocchi.

“That’s two bad memories. Had we won, Napoli would have been fighting to the end with us.”

That victory for Napoli helped ensure they snatched third place and automatic qualification for the Champions League group stages.

Lazio, on the other hand, went on to lose out to Udinese for fourth spot and had to settle for Europa League football this season.

Winning is crucial for Napoli who trail their opponents by seven points, albeit with a game in hand, and cannot afford to slip any further behind in the title race.

For Inter, success is even more vital. They remain fourth from bottom, only a point above the relegation zone, although they too have a game in hand.

Inter host Cagliari today looking to transform their European form to the league. They have won three out of four matches in the Champions League but won only two – while losing five – in nine at home.

“We have to return to being protagonists, we have to concentrate on Cagliari and to get as many points as possible before Christmas,” said Inter captain Javier Zanetti.

“We have to approach every match in the best way to earn three points. We know it won’t be easy but the pitch will do the talking.”

Elsewhere, champions Milan go in search of a sixth consecutive league win as they travel to Fiorentina, who replaced coach Sinisa Mihajlovic with Delio Rossi after their last match.

‘La Viola’ are right in the middle of a congested mid-table in which sixth-placed Napoli are only two points above Parma in 15th but Mihajlovic’s efforts did little to convince the Fiorentina hierarchy.

The only unbeaten team in the league is Juventus, who entertain a Palermo side which has only one point and no goals on their travels this season.

Leaders Udinese travel to Parma while rock bottom Cesena go in search of their first win, away to Bologna.

Fixtures

Serie A

Playing Today
Inter vs Cagliari - 18.00
Fiorentina vs Milan - 20.45
Napoli vs Lazio - 20.45

Tomorrow – 15.00
Bologna vs Cesena - 12.30
Catania vs Chievo
Genoa vs Novara
Juventus vs Palermo
Parma vs Udinese
Roma vs Lecce - 20.45
Siena vs Atalanta

Standings: Udinese, Lazio 21; Milan 20; Juventus 19; Palermo 16; Napoli, Roma, Catania 14; Siena, Cagliari 13; Atalanta (-6), Genoa, Fiorentina, Chievo, Parma 12; Bologna 10; Inter, Lecce 8; Novara 7; Cesena 3.

Serie B

Played Yesterday
Livorno vs Ascoli 0-1

Today – 15.00
Bari vs Sampdoria
Crotone vs Torino
Empoli vs Verona
Juve Stabia vs Modena
Nocerina vs Vicenza
Padova vs Grosseto
Pescara vs Gubbio
Sassuolo vs Brescia
Varese vs Cittadella

Monday
AlbinoLeffe vs Reggina - 20.45

Standings: Torino 34; Sassuolo 31; Pescara 29; Padova 28; Reggina 27; Verona 25; Sampdoria, Varese 22; Grosseto, Livorno 20; Bari (-2) 19; Cittadella 18; Brescia, Juve Stabia (-4) 17; Crotone (-1), Vicenza 16; Empoli, AlbinoLeffe 15; Modena, Gubbio 14; Nocerina 13; Ascoli (-10) 5.