LAZIO VS. ROMA: STRAIGHT INTO THE DERBY
In a long and testing season, some matches stand out from the others, moments that can flip the script and change the course of events. And when it comes to the Rome derby, that match holds an even more special and sacred meaning. The Rome derby comes alive in the narrow streets, leaning on bar counters, at the heart of neighbourhoods that breathe life into it. It’s an endless week with its slow and flawless build-up to the most electrifying 90 minutes. Daily life comes to a standstill as the Stadio Olimpico fills up, and all noise dies down. That’s exactly how it will be again on Sunday at 12:30 CEST with Sarri’s return to Lazio’s side-lines**, Gasperini’s first time in charge** of the Giallorossi, the hunger to redeem themselves, and the drive to win the crown. Lazio vs. Roma is many things all tied into one long, inescapable moment.
How the two teams are coming into it
On one side, there’s Sarri’s Lazio, coming off a 1-0 defeat at the Mapei Stadium against Sassuolo, and are now hoping to turn things around in the most important match of the season. Across the three opening league games, the Biancocelesti have acquired three points: one win and two defeats. The game that stands out is, of course, their 4-0 victory over Hellas Verona, when the team showcased their full potential with fluid vertical play that seemed to mark a fresh start after their disappointing opening defeat to Como. With the derby approaching, fans hope that the match will be an opportunity for Lazio to make their way back to the top of the table. Last season, they didn’t manage to beat Roma, but with Sarri back in charge, the side now has the chance to break that streak by counting on the Tuscan coach’s wealth of experience. It is still too early to draw conclusions about the season so far, but a player who has taken the spotlight has been Valentín Castellanos. In the match against Verona, the Argentinian player scored one goal and made two assists, one of them a rabona. Now the question is, will ‘Taty’ be able to score his first-ever goal in a Rome derby? Lazio’s strength may also be in part due to their experienced key players: from captain Zaccagni to the fiery Guendouzi, with Romagnoli providing leadership at the back. These players, who have fought many battles, are able to guide their teammates through the most challenging moments of the match.
Gasperini’s Roma, with six points in the league, suffered their first defeat of the season in their latest home game. Torino beat Roma with a brilliant goal from Simeone, and now the Giallorossi will face a real challenge soon. This derby has its own rich history, but with the table’s constant shifts, both teams are kept on their toes. The stakes are already high and Gasperini is looking to establish his team’s form, drawing on the energy demonstrated in the wins over Bologna and Pisa. Individual talent could make all the difference: Matias Soulé, who scored against Pisa, is expected to feature and could become a key player in the capital. In some ways, the match is a battle in midfield. Roma have both muscle and tactical awareness: if Koné and Cristante are positioned together in the middle, they will aim to exploit gaps in the Biancocelesti defence during fast breaks, as they did in their early appearances this season.
Their previous encounter on matchday four
Exactly like the 2013/14 season, the two teams are heading into another derby straight away. On 22 September, in front of 45,000 fans at the Stadio Olimpico, the capital served as the stage for Rudi Garcia’s Roma facing Vladimir Petković’s Lazio on the fourth matchday of Serie A. On one side, the French coach lined up with a 4-1-4-1 with Totti as a false nine and Gervinho’s pace to run down defences; on the other side, there was Klose’s composure combined with the mechanical efficiency of Lulić and Candreva on the flanks, supporting the reliable attacking instincts of the German striker. As always, the game was intense: the referee, Gianluca Rocchi, handed out seven yellow cards and one red to André Dias late into the game. All the action came in the second half, around an hour in, as Balzaretti opened the scoring with an assist from Totti, and Adem Ljajić, coming off the bench, secured the 2-0 victory for Roma. The win somewhat avenged the 2013 Coppa Italia final, when Lazio came out champions thanks to Lulić’s decisive goal.
Lunchtime Derby
The introduction of a lunchtime match for the Italian league came in the 2010/11 season, and this weekend’s game will be the second time the Rome Derby will kick off at 12:30 CEST. To trace back a previous lunchtime derby, we had to go back to 30 April 2017. At that point in the season, the championship had reached a decisive stage. Max Allegri’s Juventus was leading the table, but Roma had hopes to compete right until the final matchday. Those Scudetto ambitions were shattered by Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio, who stopped Luciano Spalletti’s men on matchday 34. With Keita Baldé’s brace and a goal from Basta, the Biancocelesti won the derby 3-1 (the Giallorossi’s lone goal coming from De Rossi), effectively ending Roma’s chase of the Bianconeri. Past, present, and key moments of a timeless clash, just like the city of Rome itself. No excuses, for glory, it’s derby time on Sunday. Let the show begin! (Photo Getty Images)