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" Strugglers Lazio and Atalanta are in dire need of points heading into the Stadio Olimpico clash as they try to breathe life into their flagging campaigns.

Lazio boss Giuseppe Papadopulo, who took over from Mimmo Caso at the Christmas break, promptly led the Biancoceleste to a city derby triumph over Roma but a string of defeats have followed, leaving the Roman club with just 24 points - three clear of the relegation zone.

"This team needs a win in order to find confidence," striker Fabio Bazzani said. "A victory could be the turning point for us."

Adding to the anxiety for Papadopulo, however, is that the one player who has sparked the team this season, veteran summer signing Paolo Di Canio, is injured and unavailable for the game against Atalanta. More, now than ever, Papadopulo needs a big game out of winter signing Bazzani, a striker acquired from Sampdoria which saw Simone Inzaghi move in the other direction. If Lazio do not pick up a lot of points over the next few weeks, they will hit a crisis point because they are all winnable games. The first hurdle is bottom side Atalanta, a team with 14 points and who look almost certain to drop back into Serie B. Next will be Chievo, who are just four points better off than Lazio. Then will come Parma, who despite their woeful start have managed to climb out off the bottom three to the last position of safety on 23 points.Di Canio's absence is a big blow for us because he gives us a lot of motivation on the pitch and he is the first in training to push the group," Bazzani added.

Papadopulo will also have to do without veteran Portuguese central defender Fernando Couto and midfielder Antonio Filippini, as both are suspended. Moreover, injuries will prevent Luciano Zauri, Cesar and Thomas Manfredini from taking part, forcing Papadopulo to make a lot of changes to his starting line-up.

Sunday's win against Livorno notwithstandinig, Atalanta will still need a few miracles if they are to stay up. That win was only their second of the 2004-5 campaign, and it followed immediately after president Ivan Ruggeri's announcement that he was stepping down. Despite the distraction, coach Delio Rossi was able to steer his team to an important win.

"For Atalanta," Rossi said, "this was our last call. Had we not won this game, it would have been better to start thinking of next year." The Bergamaschi travel to the Italian capital without defender Stefano Lorenzi and striker Igor Budan, who are both injured.

For the Biancocelesti this is a do-or-die match. Failure to win against the worst club in Serie A might have terrible repercussions for a squad that its aim has become to avoid relegation. Lazio need three points and this is the best opportunity they have to do so as they face a team which is already doomed for Serie B football next season. A must win "

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