Lazio vs Cagliari preview - No let-up from Pioli and Lazio

Posted Sunday, November 02, 2014 by PA

Lazio coach Stefano Pioli is telling his players to keep their foot on the pedal and go hard for another win when they host Cagliari on Monday.

The Biancoceleste have collected 13 of a possible 15 points in their last five games, with Thursday's 1-1 draw at Hellas Verona keeping the Roman club in fourth place.

Victory on Monday would see Pioli's side leapfrog Napoli into third and close the gap on rivals Roma to just three points.

Roma and Juventus went into the 10th round of games level at the top of the table but the former lost 2-0 at Napoli on Saturday and Juve won 2-0 at Empoli.

"We have to keep our heads down and continue to work hard," Pioli told reporters in Italy. "We must focus on ourselves and keep improving as a team, but we always have to take aim at claiming three points game after game."

Lazio's objective is to finish in the top five and clinch a return to European football for next season.

"Big aims are only completed by achieving smaller aims," Pioli said. "We are still in the early stages of the campaign and this is not the time to look at the standings."

Pioli expects a difficult test against Cagliari, who have been playing well of late under coach Zdenek Zeman.

The Sardinian outfit won 4-0 at Empoli before holding AC Milan to a 1-1 draw last time out to climb to 14th place.

"Besides their defeat in Verona, in their past two away games they have scored four goals at Inter and at Empoli," Pioli said. "Cagliari have dangerous strikers and we will have to be ready."

Zeman will have all of his players available, with the exception of defender Danilo Avelar, who must serve a one-match ban.

Lazio, though, are missing defenders Stefan Radu, Diego Novaretti and Dusan Basta to injury and Luis Cavanda to suspension.