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There are two dates that fans of Lazio and Roma circle in their diaries each season. The first was the 29th September 2018, a date Lazio fans will want to forget. The second is the 2nd March 2019. The fans nerves will have started to kick in weeks before, can Roma complete the double? Can Lazio fans claim the bragging rights for the next six months? It’s one of the biggest derbies in Italian and world football, the 2nd March 2019- Derby della Capitale.
Lazio go into the game as the home side at the Stadio Olimpico, a stadium which both sides have shared since 1953. Lazio are seeking revenge on their biggest rivals after their 3-1 loss in September. The two sides have faced off on 171 occasions since their first derby match on the 8th December 1929, a game which Roma won 1-0. From the 171 games played, Lazio have won 45, Roma 65 and the honours have been even on 61 occasions. Roma have the slight advantage however no side can claim dominance. It’s a similar story when talking about the clubs success in domestic and European competitions, no side dominates the other, with both clubs having 14 major honours to their name. The last time one of the Rome clubs won the Serie A was back in the 2000/01 season, when Roma lifted the title.
Club honours
Lazio:
Serie A: 1973-74, 1999-00
Coppa Italia: 1957-58, 199798, 1999-00, 2003-04, 2008-09, 2012-13
Supercoppa Italiana: 1998-99, 2000-01, 2009-10, 2017-18
UEFA Cup Winners Cup: 1998-99
UEFA Super Cup: 1998-99
Roma:
Serie A: 1941-42, 1982-83, 2000-01
Coppa Italia: 1963-64, 1968-69, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1983-84, 1985-86, 1990-1991, 2006-07, 2007-08
Supercoppa Italiana: 2001-02, 2007-08
Form often goes out of the window in games like this, however, the Roma players and fans will take pleasure and belief from the fact that Lazio have only won one of their last 13 meetings, whilst Roma have claimed the bragging rights on seven of those occasions.
At this stage in the season both teams have the same goal, to secure a place in the top four of Serie A and quality for a place in next seasons UEFA Champions League group stages. Juventus currently sit on 69 points and are the clear favourites to win the league, Napoli sit in second place on 56 points and would have to suffer a serious dip in form if they were to finish any lower. Inter Milan and AC Milan currently occupy the third and fourth spots on 47 and 45 points respectively. Roma sit in fifth on 44 points whilst Lazio sit in sixth on 38 points, six points behind their rivals and seven behind fourth place Milan, however they do have a game in hand.
Lazio’s leading goal scorer Ciro Inmobile has struggled in front of goal recently, scoring only one goal in his last seven Serie A appearances. The Italian has scored 12 goals and assisted his team mates on seven occasions this season and will want nothing more than to get back on track with a goal against Roma.
Whilst Lazio have relied on Inmobile, a large amount of Roma’s goals have come from three players. Stephan El Shaarawy leads the way on eight goals in 17 Serie A appearances whilst former Manchester City men Edin Dzeko and Aleksandr Kolarov both have seven goals to their names.
Roma managed by Eusebio Di Francesco, who played for the side last time they won the Serie A title in 2001, are on a good run of form since suffering a 7-1 hammering at the hands of Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia quarter-final at the end of January. I Giallarossi are unbeaten in their last five, with four wins and a draw.
Di Francesco who experienced this rivalry during his four years at Roma between 1997-2001 urged his side to put their heart in before their head:
“I think the fans will be fired up for it as it is. Well play with passion, heart and commitment.
Dzeko’s 95th minute winner at Frosinone made for a tense finale but in some ways it brought the fans even closer to the team.
I hope to see the same celebrations tomorrow and I hope we can produce a top performance. We’ll put our hearts before our heads.”
Lazio managed by Simone Inzaghi, a former striker who played 133 games and scored 28 goals for the club during his 11-year spell between 1999 and 2010, have had quite the opposite run of form compared to their bitter rivals. I Biancocelesti have lost three of their last four, two of which were at the hands of Sevilla in their Europa League Round of 32 clash.
Speaking in his press conference ahead of the match the Lazio manager highlighted the importance of the derby across the city:
“Tomorrow’s match will be very important, we know how much it means to the city, our fans and our league position. We’re slightly behind in the table and tomorrow we have an opportunity to shorten the distance.
We will have to play an excellent game with respect for the Giallorossi and for their coach, but without fear of anyone.
The stadium tomorrow will be almost entirely ours, we will receive great energy from our fans. We will have to use our heads, legs and hearts.”
Team news
Lazio: Lazio’s injury problems have reduced recently with Luis Alberto and Luiz Felipe returning. However, Wallace (thigh), Valon Berisha (calf) and Jordan Lukaku (knee) all remain doubtful.
Lazio’s leading goal scorer Ciro Inmobile has strugged in front of goal recently
Roma: Rick Karsdorp (thigh), Patrik Schick (thigh), Cengiz Under (thigh) all look set to return to the matchday squad. Kostas Manolas (ankle) was stretched off in Roma’s 3-2 win at Frosinone last Saturday however the central defender looks set to return for the crucial derby match.
