Lazio’s Luis Cavanda is tackled by Rodrigo Palacio during a league match this season.Lazio’s Luis Cavanda is tackled by Rodrigo Palacio during a league match this season.

Lazio will become the latest team to experience the empty terraces of Cagliari’s Sant’Elia stadium when they visit the Sardinians tomorrow although it is a scenario they will be familiar with themselves.

Cagliari moved back to the Sant’Elia in October after a fruitless 18-month search for an alternative when they ended up playing most of their games in Trieste, around 1,000 kilometres away on the mainland near the Slovenian border.

However, due to ongoing construction work, the capacity has been reduced from 23,000 to just under 5,000 with only part of the main stand and one of the terraces behind the goals currently in use.

Lazio lost 1-0 at home to Atalanta in front of an empty Stadio Olimpico last Sunday but for an entirely different reason as fans boycotted the fixture in protest at club president Claudio Lotito.

Supporters are angry at what they see as a lack of investment in the team and were furious when playmaker Hernanes was sold to Inter in the January transfer window.

The ultras’ attitude towards Lotito has been frosty ever since he bought the club in 2004 and is in stark contrast to their extremely cosy relationship with free-spending predecessor Sergio Cragnotti.

Lazio won seven trophies under Cragnotti including Serie A and the old European Cup Winners’ Cup.

But Lotito told Rai Sport that he had been forced to sort out the club’s finances.

“When I took over Lazio there was a debt of €550 million and there was no merchandising or television station or radio station as there is today,” he told reporters.

“Today, this is a strong club in terms of patrimony.

“Our youth teams are among the best in Italy,” he added, as he defended his record.

“Lazio is a reference point for innovation in Italian football, where clubs are only just beginning to recognise the importance of combining good financial results with sporting ones.

“I have always acted in complete transparency and in the exclusive interests of the club. I’m only guilty of having too much affection for this club.”

Lotito said he wanted Lazio to have their own stadium, rather than using the Stadio Olimpico, but the plan was being slowed by red tape.

“With a stadium that belongs to Lazio we can define our own future. It would take three years to build, the problems are the various permits that we need,” he said.

He also promised new signings for next transfer window.

“I’ve got a list of purchases ready, we will buy for a number of positions and top level players will arrive,” he said, adding they would include a well-known forward.

Despite all the problems, Lazio have staged something of a revival since Edoardo Reja took over as coach in January and are eighth with 38 points, six adrift of the last Europa League place.

Runaway leaders Juventus (72 points), who are 14 points clear of Roma, aim for their fifth win a row when they visit mid-table Genoa tomorrow night.

The Bianconeri will be without midfielder Claudio Marchisio who suffered a foot injury in the 1-1 draw against Fiorentina in the Europa League on Thursday.

Roma, whose form has suffered after a series of injuries, have to wait until Monday evening to host Udinese. However, there is some good news for coach Rudi Garcia as talismanic forward Francesco Totti is expected to be back after missing three games with a buttock injury.

Roma are now in danger of being caught by Rafa Benitez’s Napoli who are three points behind and visit Torino in another Monday match.

Fixtures

Serie A

Playing today
Verona vs Inter - 20.45

Tomorrow – 15.00
Atalanta vs Sampdoria - 12.30
Cagliari vs Lazio
Livorno vs Bologna
Milan vs Parma
Sassuolo vs Catania
Fiorentina vs Chievo - 20.45
Genoa vs Juventus - 20.45

Monday
Torino vs Napoli - 19.00
Roma vs Udinese - 21.00

Standings: Juventus 72; Roma 58; Napoli 55; Fiorentina 45; Inter 44; Parma 43; Verona 40; Lazio 38; Torino 36; Milan, Genoa 35; Sampdoria, Atalanta 34; Udinese 31; Cagliari 29; Chievo 24; Bologna 23; Livorno 21; Catania 20; Sassuolo 18.

Serie B

Played Yesterday
Spezia vs Pescara 0-1

Today – 15.00
Bari vs Avellino
Cittadella vs Carpi
Juve Stabia vs Ternana
Latina vs Trapani
Modena vs Empoli
Palermo vs Brescia
Reggina vs Crotone
Varese vs Padova
Lanciano vs Novara 15.00
Siena vs Cesena 18.00

Leading standings: Palermo 53; Empoli 46; Latina 45; Lanciano, Avellino 44; Cesena 43; Trapani, Crotone 42, Pescara 41.

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