Lazio defender Stefan Radu started the Rome Derby tension early by noting “referees always award a foul when Francesco Totti moans.”
The two city rivals go head-to-head next weekend and the expectation is already rising.
“It is the infinite match,” Radu told Il Tempo newspaper. “My favourite memory is certainly May 26, the Coppa Italia Final, but since that day we haven’t beaten Roma and the fans remind me of that often.
“We’ve always given our best, but at times we were unlucky.”
Lazio defender Stefan Radu started the Rome Derby tension early by noting “referees always award a foul when Francesco Totti moans.”
The two city rivals go head-to-head next weekend and the expectation is already rising.
“It is the infinite match,” Radu told Il Tempo newspaper. “My favourite memory is certainly May 26, the Coppa Italia Final, but since that day we haven’t beaten Roma and the fans remind me of that often.
“We’ve always given our best, but at times we were unlucky.”
Totti has been out of action for several weeks, but hopes to be back for at least a cameo appearance in the Derby della Capitale.
“Referees always award a foul when Totti moans,” added Radu. “Not every player is treated the same way. Some referees want to prove they’ve got confidence, so they book you to make a point.”
Lazio are flying high in joint fourth place with Atalanta, so can they replicate the season they finished third to reach the Champions League play-offs?
“The table would suggest that. We have a well-organised side, at times we control, at others we soak up pressure. For example against Bologna we should’ve won, but the important thing was not to lose.
“It won’t be easy on Sunday in Palermo, we know that well in the locker room. A victory would send us up a notch and we remain concentrated to earn many points this season.”