Roma are having an almost-perfect season, but Lazio” data-scaytid=”1″>Lazio have every intention of tripping them up in the Derby della Capitale.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 14.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
Roma are having an almost-perfect season, but Lazio have every intention of tripping them up in the Derby della Capitale.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 14.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
Rudi Garcia’s men are in great shape and hope to close on Serie A leaders Juventus, while they also have a Coppa Italia semi-final against Napoli on Wednesday.
Dodo and Federico Balzaretti are the only absentees, so Vasilis Torosidis starts at left-back.
Miralem Pjanic is not 100 per cent fit, but he is still risked from the start rather than Radja Nainggolan – even though the Belgium Coach is in the stands to watch his performance.
The Giallorossi midfield is their strongest area with Kevin Strootman and local hero Daniele De Rossi.
Gervinho partners home-grown talents Francesco Totti and Alessandro Florenzi in the trident.
Lazio, on the other hand, are struggling and sacked Coach Vladimir Petkovic over Christmas to bring back Edy Reja.
The Aquile have improved considerably since his arrival and he won his last two Rome Derbies on this bench.
Lucas Biglia is suspended with Ederson and January signing Helder Postiga injured, so Senad Lulic is moved to a midfield role.
Antonio Candreva and 18-year-old Barcelona youth product Keita Balde Diao flank Miroslav Klose, who was sent fishing this week by his tactician to help him shake off some of the derby stress.
Stefano Mauri is available for the first time this season after his ban in a betting scandal expired. The last game he played was the Coppa Italia Final, in which Lazio beat Roma 1-0, on May 26 2013.
Andre Dias and Abdoullay Konko are not 100 per cent fit, but still start in defence, while Etrit Berisha is again preferred to Federico Marchetti.
Lazio: Berisha; Konko, Biava, Dias, Radu; Gonzalez, Ledesma, Lulic; Candreva, Klose, Keita
Roma: De Sanctis; Maicon, Benatia, Castan, Torosidis; Pjanic, De Rossi, Strootman; Florenzi, Totti, Gervinho