Lazio vs Roma

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Before the 159th Rome derby in Serie A, both Lazio and Roma find themselves needing to gain ground in Italy's top-four race. Dropping points on Sunday is not an option for either team as they meet at Stadio Olimpico for their final fixture before the international break. Despite a recent victory over Feyenoord, with Ciro Immobile notching his 200th goal for the club in the Champions League, Lazio's domestic performance has been disappointing. With a 1-0 loss to Bologna last weekend, Lazio has suffered five defeats in Serie A this season. Another loss in the upcoming Derby della Capitale would bring them to their worst points tally after 12 games since the mid-1990s.

Lazio, currently one of six teams yet to secure points from a losing position this season, has struggled to replicate their strong form from the 2022-23 season. In that campaign, Ciro Immobile's scoring prowess, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's impactful presence, and a series of clean sheets led them to a distant second place behind undisputed champions Napoli. Despite a recent setback against Feyenoord, Maurizio Sarri's team has the opportunity to take control of their fate in continental competition and has a chance to narrow the gap with their arch-rivals in the Serie A standings after a defeat two weeks ago.

Heading into the eagerly awaited clash on Sunday, Lazio, trailing their historical rivals by a single point, emerged victorious in both derbies last season, maintaining clean sheets in both instances. The upcoming match provides an opportunity for Lazio to achieve a rare feat, aiming for a third consecutive league win against Roma, last achieved in 2012, with the added challenge of doing so without conceding.

Lazio boasts an impressive record of being undefeated in their last six Serie A home fixtures against Roma. The encounter is renowned for its intensity, leading to numerous red cards, with 38 out of 58 hard-fought matches at the Stadio Olimpico witnessing players being sent off over the past three decades. The most recent clash in March saw the dismissals of Roger Ibanez, Bryan Cristante, and Adam Marusic, making discipline a crucial aspect for Roma in the upcoming fixture.

In contrast to their initial struggles, Roma has significantly improved their league standing, thanks in no small part to the contributions of loan striker Romelu Lukaku. The team, currently within reach of the coveted top four, has amassed 16 points in the last eight rounds, a tally surpassed only by Juventus and Inter. Notably, their recent 2-1 victory over Lecce showcased resilience and late-game heroics from Lukaku and Sardar Azmoun.

Despite facing uncertainties earlier in the season, Roma's controversial coach, Jose Mourinho, has managed to quell immediate concerns about his future. However, the long-term outlook remains uncertain. Mourinho, with 25 trophies to his name, engaged in a verbal exchange with counterpart Maurizio Sarri, emphasizing their divergent coaching philosophies. The Derby della Capitale presents a challenging test for Mourinho, who has lost three of four encounters against Sarri in Serie A.

Following Roma's away loss to Slavia Prague and Lazio's home victory over Feyenoord, the upcoming derby promises to be a test of the collective mentality of the Giallorossi. The match holds significance not only for the standings but also for the ongoing narrative surrounding the coaching prowess of Mourinho and Sarri.

The scorer of the decisive goal for Lazio in their previous encounter in March, Mattia Zaccagni, is uncertain for the upcoming match due to a knee injury suffered against Feyenoord on Tuesday. In the absence of the Italian forward, Pedro is expected to assume the left side position in the attacking trio for Biancocelesti, joining Felipe Anderson and captain Ciro Immobile. Immobile, despite having four Serie A Rome derby goals to his credit, hasn't scored any since January 2021.

Lazio's manager, Maurizio Sarri, is optimistic about the fitness of Luis Alberto (muscular) and Adam Marusic (ankle), and the team's additional two days of rest compared to Roma may enhance their chances of having these key players available. However, primary defender Nicolo Casale is not expected to return until after the international break.

On the other hand, Roma faces a tighter recovery schedule after losing their flawless record in the current Europa League campaign on Thursday. Consequently, Jose Mourinho is likely to make adjustments to his starting lineup for the derby. Lorenzo Pellegrini, the team's captain, is anticipated to make a return after spending several weeks on the sidelines, with the midfielder set to be on the bench after completing full training. Leonardo Spinazzola is also back in contention, but Chris Smalling remains sidelined due to an ongoing knee issue. Additionally, Leandro Paredes is expected to start in midfield after serving a suspension in the previous week's comeback victory against Lecce.

In the attacking department, Paulo Dybala is set to partner with Romelu Lukaku, who has been directly involved in five goals in his last three league matches against Lazio.