© EuroFootball.com
On March 21st, the suspended Rome derby will be played again today. We present an overview of these intriguing matches:
-
Start at 19:00 Lithuanian time
Referee: Roberto Rosetti.
After long discussions, speculations, and delays, the great Eternal City derby is back. It is hoped that this time there will be no incidents, and spectators can simply enjoy the football celebration.
For the city, the derby means much more than three points that a team can earn by winning. Club fans have been waiting for these matches all season, and the most loyal supporters from the Northern and Southern stands always strive to create an unforgettable atmosphere.
Importance of Points
As the end of the season approaches, points are crucial for both sides.
Roma is chasing the league leader Milan and still has hopes of reducing a nine-point deficit. Milan has played more matches, and these two teams will also compete against each other.
Lazio is fighting for the 4th place, which allows them to play in the Champions League playoffs, and a victory today would allow them to surpass Parma and Inter before their crucial match this Sunday.
Form
After drawing in the league with Reggina, Roma defeated Villareal in the UEFA Cup but was eliminated due to a poor result in the first leg. Disheartened by this failure, they were defeated by Bologna. Later, Roma recovered and won three consecutive victories.
A great victory against Juventus in the first leg of the Italian Cup final was followed by a loss to Bologna in the league. After that, Lazio beat Perugia, crushed Siena, lost in the dying minutes in the league to the same Juventus, and won a tight duel against Ancona who was doomed to relegation.
History
Lazio has not been able to beat their city neighbors for several years, so coach Roberto Mancini has not won the Rome derby as a coach, but as a player, he scored four goals.
Among the most prolific derby players currently on the teams are and (9 and 8 goals), but they will not play today due to injuries that have plagued them for almost the entire season.
Pre-match Thoughts
Roma's coach Fabio Capello believes in his team: "Approaching these matches, we have no fears. I want my team to play with real enthusiasm. The match is very important for both sides - we are fighting for the Scudetto, they are trying to stay in the top four."
When asked which player they need to pay the most attention to, Capello promptly replied, saying it's Fiore: "Lazio has a good team. We need to especially watch because he is very creative. I also expect a good performance. If he plays like he did against Modena, he can determine the match."
"I am confident these matches will be great, and we can forget about the suspended derby." - Capello believes.
"This will be an important match for everyone. Roma will act like a great city, and we can forget all the problems that have occurred." - agrees Lazio goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi.
Meanwhile, Lazio's strategist Roberto Mancini believes that his opponent is the favorite in the match:
"Roma is in a better position for these matches. But I can assure you that during the last derbies, we were not worse than them in terms of the quality of play. Sometimes we were even better than our neighbors."
The coach will miss important players today, such as goalkeeper Cesar and defender Jaap Stam. So he will need to change some things: "We need to play with the same attitude as in the first derby. But I will have to make some changes because we will not have Cesar and Stam to help us. We will greatly miss Cesar on the left. Previously this position was taken by Dejan Stankovic, but he is not here now, so it may be that Claudio Lopez will have to drop back more."
Predicted Starting Lineups:
Lazio
Goalkeeper - Peruzzi;
Defenders - Oddo, Couto, Mihajlovic, Favalli;
Midfielders - Fiore, Liverani, Giannichedda, Zauri;
Forwards - Corradi, Lopez.
Roma
Goalkeeper - Pelizzoli;
Defenders - Panucci, Samuel, Chivu, Candela;
Midfielders - Mancini, Emerson, Dacourt, Lima;
Forwards - Totti, Cassano.
