Lazio are proof that austerity measures, smart transfer business and an inspired Coach can out-perform big-spending rivals, writes Emmet Gates.
To say Lazio are exceeding expectations would be an understatement. Following a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Udinese in the rescheduled game on Wednesday evening, the Aquile surged three points clear of Inter in third place. They’re in the Coppa Italia semi-finals and topped their Europa League group.
Simone Inzaghi and his Aquile have answered the doubters so many times that they must be taken seriously, writes Jamie Thorn.
Following the end of the summer transfer window, many in Italy were touting Lazio to finish no higher than 10th. But time and time again, Simone Inzaghi and his team have proven their doubters wrong and shown that they are no flash in the pan.
The scepticism from the Italian media was not wholly unjustified. Losing both their captain and midfield linchpin Lucas Biglia to Milan threatened to destabilise the team, but Keita Balde Diao’s transfer cemented a longstanding belief that owner Claudio Lotito’s interests lie first and foremost in business.
Gianluigi Donnarumma hailed Juventus captain Gigi Buffon, discussed his best Milan saves and contract dispute. “I should’ve listened to my father.”
Milan-Juventus kicks off at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
“Buffon is the history of football, both on and off the pitch,” the 18-year-old told Sportweek magazine.
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Senad Lulic expects a “different” meeting between Lazio and Juventus today after the 3-2 Italian Super Cup win in August.
It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).
Follow the build-up and action from this game and Roma-Napoli on the LIVEBLOG.
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Juventus have the opportunity for Supercoppa revenge on Lazio, but risk another Simone Inzaghi tactical lesson, writes Daryl Hammond.
Arguably one of the most enthralling matches between two Italian teams came before the season even started. Paulo Dybala’s 91st-minute equaliser was outdone in the drama stakes by Alessandro Murgia’s winner at the 93rd to hand Lazio a deserved Italian Super Cup win over Juventus in August. Fast forward two months and both are still flying high in Serie A, fuelling enthusiasm for another potential barnstormer between the two.
On the weekend of Derby della Madonnina and Derby del Sole, the best viewing may be found in Turin this Saturday.
Former striker Roberto Pruzzo believes Lazio deserved the Italian Super Cup, but Juventus Coach Max Allegri “made debatable decisions.”
The Aquile were 2-0 up on Sunday night and got pegged back to 2-2 by a late Paulo Dybala brace before Alessandro Murgia’s last-gasp winner.
“I don’t know what choices Allegri made in that game, but in my view they were debatable,” ex-Roma star Pruzzo told Radio Radio.
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Always in the shadow of his older brother as a player, Simone has emerged as the real coaching talent of the Inzaghi family, writes Susy Campanale.
If you are the youngest in the family, you’ll know the feeling of being last to every milestone. If you happen to be in the same line of work as your elder sibling, then that just makes it even worse. As Niles Crane said to Frasier: “By the time I get around to it, it’s all chewed meat!” But, of course, Niles proved to the best character in that show and Simone is emerging as the coaching star of the Inzaghi tribe.
Ciro Immobile admits he cried at the final whistle of Lazio’s dramatic 3-2 Super Cup win over Juventus. “This team gave absolutely everything.”
The striker bagged a brace to put his side 2-0 up, only for a late Paulo Dybala double to send them towards extra time, until a last-gasp Alessandro Murgia winner.
“I am struggling to keep a lid on my emotions right now,” Immobile told Lazio Style Radio.
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Paulo Dybala lambasted the Juventus attitude after a 3-2 Italian Super Cup defeat to Lazio, calling it “a small-team mentality.”
La Joya’s late brace looked as if it was going to force extra time after coming back from 2-0 down, but Alessandro Murgia snatched the winner for 3-2 in stoppages.
“It’s a game we deserved to lose and Lazio comfortably deserved to win, even if we had come close to turning it around,” Dybala told JTV.
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A genuine team effort, Lazio fully deserved their Italian Super Cup triumph over Juventus, with Ciro Immobile their leader in attack.
Words: Tom Scholes
The goalkeeper’s performance in the opening stages in the game really kept Lazio in with a shout, even at such an early stage, with the point-blank range save on Juan Cuadrado astonishing. As the night wore on, he was solid and put in a very good performance.
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