Lazio-Roma is a match valid for the quarterfinals of the Coppa Italia and is played Wednesday at 6 p.m.: lineups, predictions, TV and streaming.
In a Coppa Italia that of surprises, so far, has not given few Lazio and Roma have respected the predictions of the eve, eliminating respectively Genoa and Cremonese. It will therefore be a Capitoline derby in the quarterfinals: whoever wins the extracittadina will face one between Juventus and Frosinone in the double semifinal.
More than ten years have passed since the most illustrious cup precedent, an eternal boast for the biancocelesti fans, a memory to be removed instead for the Giallorossi: we are talking about the 2013 final, when it was a goal by Lazio’s Lulic that decided one of the most fiery derbies ever. Roma had a chance to avenge that painful defeat a few years later but failed to do so. In the 2016-17 edition, the two great rivals of Italian soccer clashed in the semifinals: Lazio prevailed thanks to the 2-0 first leg, which made the 3-2 return leg useless (the away goals rule still applied at the time). The last stracittadina, on the other hand, was last November: two months ago, Maurizio Sarri’s and José Mourinho’s teams did no harm to each other (0-0) and it was a far from exciting match.
A derby not to be missed
A possible victory, however, could give a not inconsiderable boost to both, intent on recovering positions in the league after a muted first part of the season.
Lazio, despite the absence of Immobile and Luis Alberto, has found the continuity in recent weeks that it had lacked in the previous months, getting three wins in a row against Empoli, Frosinone and Udinese: only one clean sheet, but the attack returned to scoring consistently and in this triptych the biancocelesti never scored less than two goals. Thanks to the Udine success, Lazio moved one point ahead of Roma, moving them to within -3 of fourth place. The Giallorossi last Sunday played an excellent second half against Atalanta but it was not enough to bring home the three points (1-1) in a very evenly matched direct clash. Mourinho has to deal with a serious defensive emergency and ponders launching young Dutchman Huijsen, who has just arrived from Juventus and looked good against Atalanta, from the 1′. Up front it will be Dybala and Lukaku’s turn again. On the other side, Sarri will rely on Rovella and Vecino in midfield, while Romagnoli will be back in defense.
The Prediction
A derby is always a derby, in whatever competition it is played. Especially the one between Lazio and Roma, who live the rivalry 24 hours a day. We don’t expect a script too different from the league challenge, with the Giallorossi relying on Dybala’s quality while staking (almost) everything on intensity and competitive fury and trying to stem Sarrian dribbling. The extra-time scenario is not remote but unlike two months ago both should manage to score at least one goal. Watch out for yellow cards, which could abound in such a heartfelt match.
The probable lineups of Lazio-Roma
LAZIO (4-3-3): Provedel; Lazzari, Patric, Romagnoli, Marusic; Guendouzi, Rovella, Vecino; Felipe Anderson, Castellanos, Pedro.
ROME (3-5-2): Svilar; Huijsen, Mancini, Kristensen; Celik, Cristante, Paredes, Bove, Zalewski; Dybala, Lukaku.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
