Lazio vs Udinese preview - Gentiletti injury rocks Lazio

Posted Wednesday, September 24, 2014 by PA

Lazio have been dealt a blow ahead of Thursday's home meeting with Udinese after defender Santiago Gentiletti was ruled out for six months.

The Argentinian centre-back ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Genoa.

Gentiletti will undergo surgery on Wednesday and will not return to action until next year.

"I am really saddened for Santiago," Lazio coach Stefano Pioli told sslazio.it. "He is a wonderful person and I'm sure he will return stronger than ever."

Pioli will also be without right-back Dusan Basta and midfielder Lucas Biglia. Both players were hurt against Genoa and will undergo tests later this week.

"The injuries to Gentiletti, Basta and Biglia leave me without several important players," Pioli said. "But I'm confident that if we all row in the same direction, we can do well this season."

Sunday's narrow defeat was Lazio's second of the campaign after their 3-1 loss at AC Milan in their Serie A opener.

"We had so many chances to score against Genoa and we didn't take them," Pioli said. "But we should transform our disappointment into determination.

"We want to bounce back immediately against Udinese."

Udinese head into the encounter at Rome's Stadio Olimpico on the back of Sunday's 1-0 triumph over Napoli.

Danilo's solitary goal handed the Friulian outfit their second win of the season.

"I'm delighted with my team's performance," Udinese coach Andrea Stramaccioni said. "Our will and hunger to win paid off.

"We knew we couldn't make many mistakes against Napoli and we didn't.

"To have collected three points against a team like Napoli that is fighting for the league title is something to be proud of.

"Now we need to give continuity to this performance against Lazio."

The hosts will be without defender Stefan de Vrij, who is suspended, while Udinese midfielder Giampiero Pinzi is doubtful after sustaining a foot injury in training this week.