SERIE A 2011/2012 COMPLETE SCHEDULE

The 2011-12 Serie A fixtures has been drawn at the Lega Serie A Headquarters in Milan.
The 2011-12 season will be started on the weekend of August 27-28 and will finish on May 13, 2012.
The following are the full fixtures:
Week 1
28/8/11 – 29/1/12
Atalanta-Cesena
Bologna-Roma
Cagliari-Milan
Inter-Lecce
Lazio-Chievo
Napoli-Genoa
Novara-Palermo
Parma-Catania
Siena-Fiorentina
Udinese-Juventus
Week 2
11/9/11 – 1/2/12
Catania-Siena
Cesena-Napoli
Chievo-Novara
Fiorentina-Bologna
Genoa-Atalanta
Juventus-Parma
Lecce-Udinese
Milan-Lazio
Palermo-Inter
Roma-Cagliari
Week 3
18/9/11 – 5/2/12
Atalanta-Palermo
Bologna-Lecce
Cagliari-Novara
Catania-Cesena
Inter-Roma
Lazio-Genoa
Napoli-Milan
Parma-Chievo
Siena-Juventus
Udinese-Fiorentina
Week 4
21/9/11 – 12/2/12
Cesena-Lazio
Chievo-Napoli
Fiorentina-Parma
Genoa-Catania
Juventus-Bologna
Lecce-Atalanta
Milan-Udinese
Novara-Inter
Palermo-Cagliari
Roma-Siena
Week 5
25/9/11 – 19/2/12
Atalanta-Novara
Bologna-Inter
Cagliari-Udinese
Catania-Juventus
Chievo-Genoa
Lazio-Palermo
Milan-Cesena
Napoli-Fiorentina
Parma-Roma
Siena-Lecce
Week 6
2/10/11 – 26/2/12
Cesena-Chievo
Fiorentina-Lazio
Inter-Napoli
Juventus-Milan
Lecce-Cagliari
Novara-Catania
Palermo-Siena
Parma-Genoa
Roma-Atalanta
Udinese-Bologna
Week 7
16/10/11 – 4/3/12
Atalanta-Udinese
Cagliari-Siena
Catania-Inter
Cesena-Fiorentina
Chievo-Juventus
Genoa-Lecce
Lazio-Roma
Milan-Palermo
Napoli-Parma
Novara-Bologna
Week 8
23/10/11 – 11/3/12
Bologna-Lazio
Cagliari-Napoli
Fiorentina-Catania
Inter-Chievo
Juventus-Genoa
Lecce-Milan
Parma-Atalanta
Roma-Palermo
Siena-Cesena
Udinese-Novara
Week 9
26/10/11 – 18/3/12
Atalanta-Inter
Cesena-Cagliari
Chievo-Bologna
Genoa-Roma
Juventus-Fiorentina
Lazio-Catania
Milan-Parma
Napoli-Udinese
Novara-Siena
Palermo-Lecce
Week 10
30/10/11 – 25/3/12
Bologna-Atalanta
Cagliari-Lazio
Catania-Napoli
Fiorentina-Genoa
Inter-Juventus
Lecce-Novara
Parma-Cesena
Roma-Milan
Siena-Chievo
Udinese-Palermo
Week 11
6/11/11 – 1/4/12
Atalanta-Cagliari
Cesena-Lecce
Chievo-Fiorentina
Genoa-Inter
Lazio-Parma
Milan-Catania
Napoli-Juventus
Novara-Roma
Palermo-Bologna
Udinese-Siena
Week 12
20/11/11 – 7/4/12
Bologna-Cesena
Catania-Chievo
Fiorentina-Milan
Genoa-Novara
Inter-Cagliari
Juventus-Palermo
Napoli-Lazio
Parma-Udinese
Roma-Lecce
Siena-Atalanta
Week 13
27/11/11 – 11/4/12
Atalanta-Napoli
Cagliari-Bologna
Cesena-Genoa
Lazio-Juventus
Lecce-Catania
Milan-Chievo
Novara-Parma
Palermo-Fiorentina
Siena-Inter
Udinese-Roma
Week 14
4/12/11 – 15/4/12
Bologna-Siena
Catania-Cagliari
Chievo-Atalanta
Fiorentina-Roma
Genoa-Milan
Inter-Udinese
Juventus-Cesena
Lazio-Novara
Napoli-Lecce
Parma-Palermo
Week 15
11/12/11 – 22/4/12
Atalanta-Catania
Bologna-Milan
Cagliari-Parma
Inter-Fiorentina
Lecce-Lazio
Novara-Napoli
Palermo-Cesena
Roma-Juventus
Siena-Genoa
Udinese-Chievo
Week 16
18/12/11 – 29/4/12
Catania-Palermo
Cesena-Inter
Chievo-Cagliari
Fiorentina-Atalanta
Genoa-Bologna
Juventus-Novara
Lazio-Udinese
Milan-Siena
Napoli-Roma
Parma-Lecce
Week 17
8/1/12 – 2/5/12
Atalanta-Milan
Bologna-Catania
Cagliari-Genoa
Inter-Parma
Lecce-Juventus
Novara-Fiorentina
Palermo-Napoli
Roma-Chievo
Siena-Lazio
Udinese-Cesena
Week 18
15/1/12 – 6/5/12
Catania-Roma
Cesena-Novara
Chievo-Palermo
Fiorentina-Lecce
Genoa-Udinese
Juventus-Cagliari
Lazio-Atalanta
Milan-Inter
Napoli-Bologna
Parma-Siena
Week 19
22/1/12 – 13/5/12
Atalanta-Juventus
Bologna-Parma
Cagliari-Fiorentina
Inter-Lazio
Lecce-Chievo
Novara-Milan
Palermo-Genoa
Roma-Cesena
Siena-Napoli
Udinese-Catania

FRIENDLY MATCH: LAZIO 0 VS OSASUNA 1

This article is a repost. I  get this article from lazioland.com and was published by Khashayar Kashefi. It's about review of pre season match of Lazio against Spanish club, Osasuna. Let's check it out!

First half: Marchetti, Zauri, Diakite, Stendardo, Garrido, Cana, Ledesma, Foggia, Zarate, Sculli, Floccari.

The visitors ended last season on a flattering 9^th place, but avoided relegation in the last rounds of the season. In other words, and if it was mid-season, the team from north Spain should be seen as a team Lazio should beat quite easily, but being in the middle of preparations, it is not really the results one should be looking for, but rather to straighten out some question marks, as well as getting a view into what kind of football Reja will aim at this season.

In front of approximately 3500 fans, the first half saw Lazio use 4-2-3-1 with directions to always have five players present in attack, and five players in defence. The first half did not turn out to be an indication of anything positive though, as Lazio delivered close to nothing in attack, and failed to impress in defence as well. The two central midfielders, Ledesma and Cana, showed to be a relatively weak pairing as Cana still struggles to find his form, leaving Ledesma with far too much responsibility in both ends of the pitch. Still, the captain of the first half showed a pleasing half and continued the positive spell seen during the earlier friendlies. 

Seeing at the complete first 45 minutes, one can debate Lazio turned out weaker than expected. No real chance was created until Sculli found Zarate inside the penalty area after 35 minutes, but the shot from the Argentinean was saved and Floccari failed at tapping in the returning ball. Apart from a few attempts by Mauro Zarate, who once again clearly shows he is one of few in the team that has ideas in the attacking department, Lazio created nothing apart from a Floccari shot and a few half attempts that ended up in the hands of the Osasuna goalie, or outside the goal. The main problem turned out to be the lack of possession in midfield and since Ledesma did not have the time, or freedom, to add in attack and be the creative passer he can be the attacking department lacked intentions as well as chances.

Quickly looking at the defence, one can conclude Osasuna was more than enough for the defenders to handle. With Cana not being as energetic as is needed for a defensive central midfielder, the centre of the pitch remained uncovered and from here Osasuna created a few chances that they however failed to convert. Diakite showed his positioning is still not good enough. Lazio gave away a couple of dangerous free kicks outside the penalty area, and after 39 minutes Osasuna had a great chance to take the lead, but also the Spanish side failed to convert their few chances into goal. Marchetti, who was tested on a few occasions only, showed good positioning in goal and managed to keep his goal shut until half time. 

Second half: Bizzarri, Scaloni, Biava, Dias, Radu, Brocchi, Matuzalem, Mauri, Hernanes, Cisse, Klose.

In the second half, as in all previous friendly games, Reja fielded a completely new eleven. With the 4-3-1-2 a lot more presence in the central department meant Lazio did not give away the possession to Osasuna like during the first 45, but Lazio still failed to impress over these 45 minutes as well.

Just as the first half, the second half was a displeasing display. With Cisse on the field, and with Brocchi being as energetic as always, the team showed a little more pace and speed, but the clear chances were absent initially. A few corners were created, mostly after Cisse having sent crosses, but throughout the game Lazio failed to convert any of them. After 56 minutes Biava went as close as Lazio came to score this game, with a good header after a corner by Hernanes, but the Osasuna defenders managed to clear the ball of the goal line. Just a few minutes after this Mauri fired a great volley after Matuzalem finding him inside the penalty box, but also this time the ball was saved. Klose went close on a couple of occasions as well, missing the goal entirely on the two best opportunities created.

Many Lazio supporters have been questioning the arrival of Djibril Cisse, but just as Zarate being the only creative force in the first half, Cisse was the most interested in the second. Not only did he create a handful corners, but he also set up Brocchi, Klose, Hernanes and Mauri throughout the half. It was also through the vivid Frenchman Lazio created a brilliant scoring opportunity on a free kick just outside the penalty area in the 84^th minute, where Sergio in the Osasuna defence was forced to stop the ball with his arm and in effect was shown a red card. Unfortunately Hernanes failed to convert this free kick; despite beating the wall with power the goal keeper saved the ball without any problem. The remaining minutes of the game saw Lazio eventually create a little bit of pressure on the Osasuna goal, but the 90 minutes passed without Lazio scoring a single goal.

In this half Lazio looked more stable in defence, but despite the security present through Bizzarri in goal, Dias in the back line and Brocchi in the central midfield, it was in the second half Lazio conceded the only goal of the game. Just as many times before, Dias’ partner at the centre back, Giuseppe Biava, managed to create a brilliant shooting chance for the Spanish side. Iranian international Javad Nekonam, placed just outside the penalty area, was gifted a perfect ball by the insecure Lazio defender who tried to head the ball away on a cross. The Osasuna captain found the back of the Lazio net with a brilliantly placed shot, leaving Bizzarri with very little chance. Without a doubt Biava showed to be the weak link at the back again, raising the question whether Lazio can cope without adding a central defender ready to step in and accompany Dias.

Towards the end of the game players in both teams looked irritated, and a few yellow cards were handed out after some pushing and shoving. The Lazio players looked tired and fatigued all through the game, and if it was not for Zarate and Cisse the team would have struggled to give the many spectators anything in return. Hopefully the coming friendly games, starting with Reggina and Villarreal on 31 July, will give the management, players as well as the fans, reasons to look more brightly on the future...

FRIENDLY MATCH: LAZIO 3 VS SLAVIA PRAGUE 3

Lazio ace striker, Sergio Floccari  scored two goals in a pre season match against czech club, Slavia Prague. The game itself ended with 3-3 score. First half: Lazio: Marchetti, Zauri, Biava, Dias, Garrido, Brocchi, Ledesma, Sculli, Hernanes, Cisse, Zarate. Slavia Prag: Contofalsky, Hubacek, Trubila, Dostal, Kaufman, Petrak, Prosek, Jarolim, Kores, Milutinovic, Pospech. Second half: Lazio: Bizzarri, Cavanda, Stankevicius Diakite, Scaloni, Foggia, Cana, Matuzalem, Del Nero, Rocchi, Floccari The Goal Scorers:  0-1 Kaufman 18', 0-2 Milutinovic 29', 1-2 Floccari 58', 2-2 Del Nero 64', 2-3 Jarolim 66', 3-3 Floccari 70'

FRIENDLY MATCH: LAZIO 5 VS FC LUZERN 1

Another friendly match had been faced by Lazio several days ago. The opponent were coming from Swiss, FC Luzern. For your information, FC Luzern had became the club for one of the Indonesian player, Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, although the former Indonesian international striker spent only one season with this club.

This is the formation of the teams:

First half: Lazio: Federico Marchetti, Senad Lulic, Marius Stankevicius, Modibo Diakite, Lionel Scaloni, Mark Bresciano, Francelino Matuzalem, Lorik Cana, Giuseppe Sculli, Mauro Zarate, Sergio Floccari.

Luzern: Zibung, Thiesson, Fanger, Kibebe, Kryyeziu, Kukelu, Lustenberget (50' Yanko Pankar), Hyka, Winter, Wiss, Ianu.

Lazio had managed to get the lead as early as in the 4^th minute with Mauro Zarate getting his first goal of the game. A low Scaloni cross found Mauro in the box and the Argentinean made no mistake on the first chance on goal of the evening.

In the first half, Lulic proved to have great offensive qualities and set up the second goal (27’) of the evening after a great run penetrating the Luzern penalty area and sending a cross that found Zarate who only had to finish off the attack.

In the 9^th minute Modibo Diakite went close after a Zarate corner, and in the 32^nd Floccari should have added a third goal as he missed an open goal after trying to fire the ball into the net with power. Other than that, Lazio struggled to create any pressure on the Luzern goal and the Swiss showed as dangerous as Lazio.

After having started the game with in a solid way, Marius Stankevicius came to play the main role in defense in the first half. In the 20^th minute Scaloni lost the ball in a dangerous position on the right and Jahmir Hayka got passed Marchetti, but was denied by the Lithuanian on the goal line. Twenty minutes later the Lazio defender missed his marking and Luzern was close to grabbing a first goal but failed to capitalize. In the 44^th minute however they were to celebrate, as Lazio’s new number 12 once again missed his marking, this time on a corner, and Cristian Ianu had an easy time heading the ball behind Marchetti.

The first half had ended with 2-1 score for Lazio. In second half Edy Reja did some change of the players. In came in second half: Albano Bizzarri, Abdoulay Konko, Giuseppe Biava, Andre Dias, Javier Garrido, Christian Brocchi, Cristian Ledesma, Stefano Mauri, Anderson Hernanes, Djibril Cisse and Miroslav Klose.

In the beginning not much happened, but after a few minutes the new eleven started moving, and it was Djibril Cisse that led the team. With the match clock on 68’ the Frenchman got a goal after Brocchi’s shot had been stopped, only to find himself offside. The spectators did not have to wait more than five minutes though until “the Black Lion” showed his quality again. Klose showed great determination in the penalty area fighting for the ball, and after sending it to Cisse, who controlled the ball beautifully, the latter easily doubled the Lazio lead.

With ten minutes left of the game number 99 stood out as most impressive Lazio player of the day. Just having advanced inside the Luzern half Cisse found Klose with a beautiful cross, and the German international showed his great goal scoring ability with a secure header making the score-line 4-1.

 Luzern did not have much to put in the way of a Lazio side that now showed more speed and looked more interested in attacking compared to the first half. Most interested of all was Djibril Cisse, who just two minutes after the latest goal showed the pace and speed he is famous for and outran the Swiss defense to serve Mauri a great pass, but the skipper failed to convert it this time. Just after that Hernanes fired a great shot from just outside the penalty area, only to see Zibung in the Luzern goal save the shot to a corner. Then Dias went close with a great header, and Cisse tested his shooting abilities after sprinting away from the defense, but once again the goalie managed to keep the ball out. On the following corner Klose was close to adding another goal to his tally, but despite a great Mauri cross the German showed also he can miss a sitter.

With the clock passing 90’ everyone was awaiting the final whistle from the referee, but the Lazio players had yet one more attempt in mind. Three minutes into the injury time Klose got the ball out to the left side of the penalty area, where Mauri caught the ball and finished the attack with a clinical shot. Once again the Luzern defense had missed in their marking, and there was nothing Zibung could do to avoid seeing Lazio make it 5-1. Shortly after the referee ended the game.

CLAUDIO LOTITO AND LAZIO NEW PLAYERS PRESS CONFRENCE

Several days ago Lazio president Claudio Lotito gathered his new players, after the Union Ripa friendly match. Lotito told the attended press that he wanted a Lazio to battle on all championship, both in Italy and in Europe. And for that he went for more experienced international players on the market, with that extra quality to lift Lazio to a higher football level.

There was a part of the conference that the new players spoke about their new adventure at Lazio.

German striker, Miroslav Klose spoke that he was up to a new challenge. Even being one of the greatest strikers in German history, Klose was happy to leave Bayern Munchen and join to Lazio, a team with a great tradition, in one of biggest Leagues. He even spoke with Luca Toni (also former player of Bayern Munchen) about the difficulties of the Serie A, and how to outplay that.

Then, The Albanian Lorik Cana quoted Lazio as a big club in a big League, with ambition to do well in all 3 competities (Serie A, Coppa Italia and Europa League). Cana told the press that he preferes to play central in midfield, but he didn't mind playing elsewhere on the pitch.

Then, how about Djibril Cisse ? "Scudetto? Why not ?", only with those 3 words Djibril Cissé enough to  gathered all the attention at the press conference. Cissé said that Lazio has the individual players, and the collective play, to battle with all teams in Italy and Europe. And he even told that he was impressed by the reception at the airport, by the Lazio fans, on his arrival.

Lotito then ended the press conference, by telling that his Lazio will be marking a new decade for greater heights.

FRIENDLY MATCH: LAZIO 8 VS VENETIANS PIEVIGINA 0

 In the third friendly match of the pre season, German bomber Miroslav Klose once again impressed with a first half hattrick in Lazio's 8-0 win over Venetians Pievigina.

The coach Edy Reja decided to started Klose upfront alongside the captain Tomasso Rocchi, in a 4-3-1-2 formation, and had bagged three goals by half time. Christian Brocchi, Anderson Hernanes and Giuseppe Biava also scored in the first half to give Lazio a 6-0 lead at the break.

Mauro Zarate and Giuseppe Sculli replaced the strikers for the second half and scored a goal each before a host of changes throughout the squad brought he game to a close.

This is the formation of the first Half: Albano Bizzarri in goal line; the defenders are Abdoulay Konko, Giuseppe Biava, Guglielmo Stendardo, Stefan Radu; the midfielders are Christian Brocchi, Cristian Ledesma, Stefano Mauri; Anderson Hernanes; the forwarders are Miroslav Klose and Tomasso  Rocchi as the captain.

And for the formation of the second Half: Albano Bizzarri (60' Emmanuele Berardi); Abdoulay Konko (60' Lionel Scaloni), Giuseppe Biava (60' Mobido Diakitè), Marius Stankevicius, Stefan Radu (60' Javier Garrido); Christian Brocchi (60' Mark Bresciano), Cristian Ledesma (60' Francelino Matuzalem), Stefano Mauri (60' Senad Lulic); Anderson Hernanes (60' Sergio Floccari); Giuseppe Sculli, Mauro Zarate.

And for the scorers are: 8',14', 31' Miroslav Klose, 19' Christian Brocchi, 24' Anderson Hernanes, 41' Giuseppe Biava, 53'  Mauro Zarate, and 55' Giuseppe Sculli.

FRIENDLY MATCH: LAZIO 8 VS UNION RIPA FELTRESE 0

In second friendly match, Lazio faced Union Ripa Feltrese in a rainy Auronzo. Coach Edy Reja started the first half with this formation: Federico Marchetti, Lionel Scaloni, Mobido Diakitè, Marius Stankevicius, Senad Lulic, Mark Bresciano, Francelino Matuzalem, Mauro Zàrate, Sergio Floccari, Giuseppe Sculli and Tomasso Rocchi.

Very early in the game Lazio scored, a Scaloni cross found Zarate who scored the first of the game. As the rain was pouring down, the crowd had to wait till the 28th minute for the next goal. Sculli ran down the left side, his cross found Rocchi who beat the Union Ripa goalkeeper. Five minutes later, again  Sculli run on to Floccari, and in between three defenders Floccari found the net, 0-3. Just before half time Matuzalem scored the fourth, shooting from 20 meters with his left foot beating everyone.

In the second half, a totally new team entered for Lazio, the formation were: Emanuele Berardi, Abdoulay Konko, Giuseppe Biava, Andre Dias, Stefan Radu, Stefano Mauri, Cristian Ledesma, Christian Brocchi, Anderson Hernanes, Miroslav Klose and Djibril Cissé.

Everybody was very curious as to how the Cissé and Klose connection would work for the first time. But nothing happened untill the 20th minute of the second half. Cissé with the ball, finding Klose who launched Hernanes down deep, and a beautiful swift touch of the Brazilian gave Lazio the 0-5.

Then 2 goals in 3 minutes. Konko running down the right side, cross to Mauri, and he took the ball with a bicycle kick and the ball launched to the net, 0-6 for Lazio. Next minute, Brocchi finds Cissé running deep, a low shot of the Frenchman beating the Union Ripa goalkeeper, the 0-7 and first goal for Cissé.

Then in the last 5 minutes, Ledesma finding Mauri, pass to Cissé running down deep, the Frenchman sees Klose running free, gave a simple sidepass to Klose and he scored for the final score, 0-8.

FRIENDLY MATCH: LAZIO 16 VS AURONZO 0

Lazio had their first friendly against the local team of Auronzo several days ago. Coach Edy Reja started with Federico Marchetti in goal line; Abdoulay Konko, Giuseppe Biava, Andre Dias and Stefan Radu as the back four.  In midfield area, Christian Brocchi, Cristian Ledesma and Mark Bresciano.  Stefano Mauri was given a free role behind the strikers Miroslav Klose and Tomasso Rocchi.

German bomber, Miroslav Klose scored four goals in a row within twenty minutes and later provided two assists.  One for Il capitano Tomasso Rocchi and one for Andre Dias.  Klose scored the first goal in the 7th minute and the last one before half-time, in the 41st minute. While the rain was pouring down, the crowd enjoyed the game, as new signings Djibril Cissé and Marius Stankevicius followed the goals from the bench.

For the second half a complete different team went on the pitch.  Albano  Bizzarri in goal line, in defense area Giuseppe Stendardo, Mobido Diakité, Lionel Scaloni and Senad Lulic.  Midfield area with Lorik Cana, Francelino Matuzalem and Anderson Hernanes.  In front, there are Mauro Zarate, Giuseppe Sculli and Sergio Floccari.

And the goals came pouring down as the game went on. A brace apiece from Sculli and Hernanes gave the 10-0 score. Matuzalem and a double by Floccari gave Lazio a 13-0 score. And in the end, even youngster Ceccarelli, plus Zarate and Floccari gave the remarkable final score of 16-0.

OFFICIAL! DJIBRIL CISSE JOINED LAZIO

The French Lion King has joined Lazio for several days ago. Well, I'm very late to publish this article. So, let's just check the pictures of him in Lazio jersey.. ^_^

OFFICIAL!! MARIUS STANKEVICIUS JOINED LAZIO

Several days ago, Lazio have reached an agreement with Sampdoria for the winger Marius Stankevicius.

The wing-back spent last season with the Spanish team Valencia  CF and was back in Genoa but following Sampdoria's relegation to the Serie B he wants to move again. Lazio have struck a deal to bring him to Rome as an alternative to Abdoulay Konko, a newcomer from Genoa who can also play in midfield area.

Stankevicius is the sixth signing already this summer for Lazio after Klose, Lulic, Konko, Cana and Marchetti. BENVENUTO MARIUS!!

THE WEDDING OF MAURO ZARATE AND NATALIE WEBBER

The Lazio forwardMauro Zarate finally ended his single life in early July several days ago. Mauro Zarate and Natalie Weber, became husband and wife in a civil ceremony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

According to reports from people close to the couple, a more formal church ceremony will take place next year as this ceremony manifested their love for each other as the couple is awaiting a child.Mauro Zarate will soon be the father of a son as Natalie Weber is believed to be pregnant.

Unfortunately enough for the couple, there is no honeymoon his summer. Mauro Zarate and Natalie Weber went back in Rome early last week, in order to join the traditional pre-season medical and later is off to Auronzo di Cadore with the rest of the team. 

This year however, he is not leaving a lonely Natalie behind as the child is believed to be born in around seven months.

Congratulation Maurito... ^_^