Alessio Romagnoli grew up in the Roma youth academy, but is now captain of his beloved Lazio, so knows full well the Derby della Capitale is ‘the game of games.’
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday at 17.00 GMT.
This is not just the most bitter derby in Italian football, but also a head-to-head for the top four and qualification into the Champions League.
“The derby is a game that prepares itself, it is fundamental for everyone around the club,” Romagnoli told the official Lazio website.
“We must give everything in order to win it, 110 per cent at every moment throughout the 90 minutes.”
Romagnoli is a lifelong Lazio supporter even though, like his new teammate Luca Pellegrini, he grew up in the Roma youth academy, so has experienced both sides of the derby divide.
“Our locker room is like a second family and the new arrivals settled in right away, thanks also to those who have been playing here for years.
“The derby is the game of games. For anyone who is a fan and playing on the field, that passion makes you feel it even more and play with a different approach to the other matches.”
The 28-year-old left Roma on loan to Sampdoria in 2014 and then followed coach Sinisa Mihajlovic to Milan a year later in a deal worth €25m.
He only made 14 competitive appearances for the senior Roma squad, scoring one goal, whereas he already has 31 under his belt for Lazio.
While the Giallorossi are preparing for their Europa League quarter-final clash with Feyenoord, Lazio are out of Europe altogether, eliminated first from the Europa League and this week the Conference League at the hands of AZ Alkmaar.
“It is disappointing the way we went out, as we started both legs really well and took the lead only to then lose. Now we must try to recover our energy and focus on the sprint finish in Serie A.”