Football Previews
Lazio coach Stefano Pioli is hopeful his side can start a new winning streak against Parma on Wednesday that will carry them to a second-place finish in Serie A. Fourteen points behind runaway league leaders Juventus, Lazio are trying to beat Roma and Napoli to a runners-up finish that would ensure direct qualification to the Champion League. “We want to win all of our remaining six games,” Pioli said to the Italian press. “We are preparing well for tomorrow’s match, with concentration and tranquility. “There are no easy games in Serie A and we know we have six finals left to play.” Lazio return to the Stadio Olimpico three days after being held to a 1-1 draw by Chievo. That result followed Lazio’s 2-0 loss at Juventus, a defeat which had halted the Biancoceleste’s eight-match winning streak. Despite those two setbacks, Lazio are still in second place in the standings, one point clear of city rivals Roma and three points above Napoli. “We should have won against Chievo,” Pioli said. “But we didn’t make the most of our chances. “We must turn the page.” Lazio have not lost at the Stadio Olimpico since February 9 and take on a Parma side that has won just once on the road all season. Bottom-side Parma have endured a difficult campaign on and off the pitch and are trying to delay relegation for another week. The Ducale club was declared bankrupt last month and Parma’s players have not been paid since last summer. Parma have also been docked seven points this season, four last week, as punishment for financial mismanagement. Sunday’s 1-0 triumph over Palermo was Parma’s sixth win overall but still left Roberto Donadoni’s men 15 points adrift of safety. “I’m really saddened and I never expected this situation,” Parma-born Pioli said. “I hope things can turn out for the best for Parma. “I would like to compliment Donadoni and his players because they have shown they deserve to be higher up in the standings.” Parma are without Andrea Costa and Zouhair Feddal, with both defenders suspended.
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Team
MP
W
D
L
F
A
G
P
1
Atalanta
17
13
1
3
42
19
+23
40
2
SSC Napoli
17
12
2
3
26
12
+14
38
3
Inter Milan
16
11
4
1
42
15
+27
37
4
Lazio
17
11
1
5
32
24
+8
34
5
Fiorentina
16
9
4
3
29
13
+16
31
6
Juventus
17
7
10
0
28
13
+15
31
7
Bologna
16
7
7
2
23
18
+5
28
8
AC Milan
16
7
5
4
25
16
+9
26
9
Udinese
17
7
2
8
21
26
-5
23
10
Roma
17
5
4
8
23
23
+0
19
11
Empoli
17
4
7
6
16
19
-3
19
12
Torino
17
5
4
8
17
22
-5
19
13
Genoa
17
3
7
7
14
26
-12
16
14
Lecce
17
4
4
9
11
29
-18
16
15
Parma
17
3
6
8
23
33
-10
15
16
Como
17
3
6
8
18
30
-12
15
17
Verona
17
5
0
12
21
40
-19
15
18
Cagliari
17
3
5
9
16
28
-12
14
19
Venezia
17
3
4
10
17
30
-13
13
20
Monza
17
1
7
9
15
23
-8
10
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