LOTITO RUES LACK OF MATURITY

Lazio president Claudio Lotito believes a lack of maturity is costing his team dearly this season.

The Biancocelesti travel to Sicily to meet Catania on Saturday afternoon, looking to bounce back from their surprising 3-0 home loss to Chievo last weekend.

The result ended Lazios positive run of three consecutive victories.

Consistency has been a problem for Lazio this season and Lotito is unimpressed.

He said: "I want my team to show more maturity on the pitch.

"I want to see us more determined, humble and united.

"We cannot approach a game like we did against Chievo thinking we're superior and that the work is done before we've played."

With Lazio not having had the distraction of European football this season, having finished a disappointing 12th in the standings last term, Lotito had hoped his team would have a big say on t hold the last European qualifying spot.

"I'm simply not happy with my team's attitude," added Lotito. "There's a lack of maturity.

"You achieve your aims through mental strength and I didn't see that against Chievo.

"My team had a drop in concentration and I don't want that to happen again."

With games against Roma, Inter Milan and Juventus awaiting Delio Rossi's side before the season is over, Lazio will have to start to show some consistency if they wish to play in Europe next season.

"We have 10 finals left to play," said Lotito. "I expect my players to realise the importance of every game and to give everything they have."

Opponents Catania go into the encounter at the Stadio Angelo Massimino inspired by their 1-1 draw at in-form Udinese.

The Sicilians have lost just once in their last five games and are 13th in the table with a 10-point gap to the drop zone.

"We are satisfied with what we have done so far this season," said Catania coach Walter Zenga. "At this stage of the campaign, every point counts and you have to work hard to take home a result."

Zenga now hopes his team can end their poor run of results at home this weekend.

"It's important that we start winning at home," he said. "Home advantage will be crucial in the final 10 games of the campaign and the sooner we get back to winning ways, the closer we will be to our aim of maintaining our Serie A status."

The Islanders have lost four of their last five games in Catania but they will be confident of success having beaten Lazio at home in the last two seasons.

The hosts will be without injured trio Takayuki Morimoto, Ezequiel Carboni and Davide Baiocco.

Lazio welcome back goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who has recovered from a knock.

However, Rossi will be without the services of suspended defender Aleksandar Kolarov and Brazilian midfielder Matuzalem, who is out with a muscular problem.

The visitors will play with Goran Pandev alongside Tommaso Rocchi in attack.