Roma-Lazio is a Serie A Week 13 match played on Sunday at 18:00: odds, predictions, TV and streaming.
The capital is quivering. And the tension for the eagerly-awaited extracittadina, as usual one of the most heartfelt fixtures for both Giallorossi and Biancocelesti fans, is already slicing through their respective circles on Thursday evening. José Mourinho has lit the fuse: the Portuguese coach, on the sidelines of the painful victory over Ludogorets that allowed Roma to qualify for the Europa League play-offs, launched a poisoned ‘dig’ at Lazio, relegated to the Conference League – the competition that the biancoceleste sporting director Tare had not long ago defined as ‘losers’ – after the narrow defeat in the Feyenoord. This is enough to understand the mood with which the two Capitoline teams are approaching a derby that puts heavy points up for grabs in terms of fourth place and the Champions League. Roma and Lazio, in fact, are almost paired in the standings, fourth and fifth respectively, separated by just one point.
For Maurizio Sarri, a victory would be more than ever healthy to chase away the bad mood and erase the two ugly defeats against Salernitana – which came as a surprise surprise at the Olimpico last Sunday – and in the Netherlands against the Rotterdam club. The Tuscan coach, in addition to the too short bench, is suffering from the absence of Immobile and for the first time this season has lost two games in a row. He was furious about Milinkovic-Savic’s caution against the Campania side – the Serbian will miss the match against the Giallorossi due to a yellow card – and complained to Uefa, referees and opposing fans during the week.
The defence, then, suddenly looks fragile again. After six clean sheets in a row in the league, it has conceded a total of six goals between Midtjylland, Salernitana and Feyenoord. Three consecutive victories instead for Roma, who between cup commitments with Hjk Helsinki and Ludogorets also managed to take the three points in the away match in Verona, which was resolved in the final minutes (1-3) thanks to the shock of young Volpato. Mou also rediscovered Zaniolo, a great protagonist – not only for the goal – in the second half with the Bulgarians in the Europa League.
Roma-Lazio: the latest line-up news
Luis Alberto
With the injured Dybala gone, it will be up to the recovered Zaniolo to ‘light up’ the Giallorossi’s attack: the former Inter youth player, who scored a great goal against Ludogorets, will flank captain Pellegrini in the three-quarter behind Abraham, the only striker. In the middle, Mourinho could re-propose the Cristante-Camara pair, with Karsdorp and Zalewski on the flanks. Spinazzola out, while Belotti, Matic and El Shaarawy will come off the bench.
On the other side, Immobile is doing everything to recover, but it seems almost impossible to see him on the pitch in the derby. Sarri will again rely on the Pedro-Felipe Anderson-Zaccagni trident, while in midfield the absence of the disqualified Milinkovic-Savic will weigh heavily. Luis Alberto will start in the middle with Vecino and Cataldi. At the back Patric-Casale will duel.
The prediction
Between the two who seem to be better off is Roma but in derbies, especially this derby, all reasoning often leaves time to find and there are no clear favourites. We expect a balanced and far from emotionless match, in which both sides should score on at least one occasion. Potentially nervy extracittadina: the ‘red card yes’ option seems largely viable.
Roma v Lazio likely line-up
- ROMA (3-4-2-1): Rui Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Karsdorp, Camara, Cristante, Zalewski; Pellegrini, Zaniolo; Abraham.
- LAZIO (4-3-3): Provedel; Lazzari, Casale, Romagnoli, Marusic; Vecino, Cataldi, Luis Alberto; Pedro, Felipe Anderson, Zaccagni.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
