Local rivals Lazio and Rome lock horns in the first Rome Derby of the season on Friday night. Of course, there is no home advantage in this fixture as both teams play their home games at the Stadio Olimpico.
Lazio secured a 2-0 win at Parma on Sunday while Roma played out a 2-2 draw at home with Inter Milan; meaning that the gap between the two clubs has been reduced to 6pts. Roma sit higher in the table, occupying 3rd position, while Lazio sit in 8th place.
Three of the last five meetings between the two clubs have ended in stalemates and on each of those occasions, under 2.5 goals were scored.
The pair’s last two encounters both finished 1-1, but the last three Rome Derby winners have been credited as the home team and over 2.5 goals have been scored on each occasion.
Lazio have won three, drawn two and lost one of their last six Serie A games, but it’s Roma that head into Friday’s clash as the slight form favourites with four wins, one draw and one defeat from their last six fixtures.
Both teams have scored in four of Lazio’s and five of Roma’s last six outings and the same can be said in four of the last six Rome Derbies.
Ciro Immobile is enjoying another fine season in front of goal for the hosts, netting 11 league goals so far this season. The Italian international striker has scored 3-goals in his last six Rome Derbies and Lazio will be hoping he shines once again on Friday night.
Lazio are expected to be without the services of Thomas Strakosha, Joaquin Correa, Mohamed Fares, Senad Lulic and Silvio Proto due to injury. All five players missed out on the 2-0 win against Parma at the weekend. Roma have confirmed that Riccardo Calafion, Pedro and Nicolo Zaniolo won’t be fit for Friday’s big match.
With both teams in decent form this should be another close Rome Derby on Friday. Neither side have failed to score a single goal in any of their last six league games, so both teams should be full of confidence. Roma have been involved in plenty of high scoring games of late, but derbies tend to be tight and tense affairs.