Lazio vs Hellas Verona preview - Pioli praise for Lazio players
Posted Saturday, March 21, 2015 by PA
Lazio coach Stefano Pioli has showered his players with praise ahead of Sunday's home match against Hellas Verona at the Stadio Olimpico.
The Roman outfit will look to make it six Serie A wins in a row to keep the pressure on city rivals AS Roma, who are just one point ahead of them in second place.
Pioli's side has been impressive at both ends of the pitch, scoring 12 goals and giving away just one in their last five games.
"This is a sensational group, with important values," Pioli told Gazzetta dello Sport. "In our (2-0) win at Torino, the team played an intelligent game and showed a lot of maturity to beat a very good side.
"Our focus is now on Hellas, knowing that Serie A is always difficult and you need to be 100 per cent to have a chance to win.
"We want to head into the international break in the best possible way."
Hellas travel to the Italian capital in confident mode after clinching their eighth win of the campaign in last weekend's 2-0 triumph over Napoli.
The outcome in Verona, which saw Hellas keep a clean sheet for the first time since February 1, extended their unbeaten run to four games.
"This win gives us a big boost in confidence," Hellas veteran striker Luca Toni said. "To have scored two goals against Napoli makes me very happy.
"But the most important thing is the win.
"We are on the right path and we cannot slow down."
Hellas, coached by Andrea Mandorlini, are 14th in the standings, 11 points clear of the drop zone.
Luca Toni, who is Hellas' top scorer with 13 goals, will lead his team's attack on Sunday.
The visitors must overcome the absence of midfielder Jacopo Sala and striker Taleb Gomez, who suspended.
Lazio will be bolstered by the return of midfielder Antonio Candreva from suspension.
Candreva has scored five goals and set up seven more in 23 league appearances this season.
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