Ivan Provedel is likely to be ruled out of the Derby della Capitale against Roma on Sunday evening after coming down with a bout of flu in the hours leading up to the game according to reports in Italy.
Luis Maximiano is expected to replace this season’s mainstay between the sticks in Maurizio Sarri’s line-up at the Stadio Olimpico.
The Portuguese has played just six minutes of Serie A football since his arrival in the summer of 2022, after being sent for handling the ball outside of his area just moments into the opening game of the season against Bologna in August.
Both of Lazio’s shot-stoppers were brought to the Stadio Olimpico in the summer transfer window, Provedel arriving for €2m after a two year spell with Spezia, whilst Maximiano came in for closer to €10m from then-LaLiga outfit Granada.
Provedel has proved to be indispensable to Sarri over the course of the year as the Biancocelesti boast the second-best defensive record in the division.
Only runaway league leaders Napoli have conceded fewer this term and only by a margin of three, which is testament to the former Spezia ‘keeper’s form throughout the season.
Now, Maximiano could have an unforeseen opportunity to play himself back into contention in one of Lazio’s most important games of the season so far after a disastrous start to life in Rome.
The Italian goalkeeper has been included in the squad for today’s match, but there are three more goalkeepers available, Maximiano, Marius Adamonis and 18-year-old Federico Magro.
The game between the two Roman giants at the Stadio Olimpico kicks off at 17.00 GMT.