What: Italian Serie A
Who: Lazio vs Roma
When: Sunday 16th October, 2011, at 19:45 UK time
Where: Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy
Rejuvenation
Level on points with eternal city adversaries Roma, Lazio welcome the Giallorossi to the 168th Derby della Capitale, in a match that rarely fails to thrill given the amount of history between both clubs. With the two having their sights on the highest finishing positions in the league standings, this match will be more than “just a game”, as the locals would say.
Refreshed over this past summer, this Lazio side brings a new aspect to its game represented by the arrival of two new strikers, Miroslav Klose and Djibril Cisse, while Argentine hitman Mauro Zarate was loaned out at the dying minutes of the previous transfer window. This business is paying dividends already, with Klose particularly shining at his first club outside Germany. Naturally, questions were raised over the German’s ability to still produce the goods at the age of 33, yet the forward has shown no signs of rust with three goals in five league games for the Biancoceleste so far.
Lazio know full well the importance that such a win over their neighbours would have. Having drastically changed over the past summer, Roma are hoping to be legitimate contenders this time around. A sabotage of plans at the Rome derby would therefore be a massive boost for the hosts.
Civil War
Animosity towards the “other” club is equally shared by Roma fans, who will be eager to win the first post-Sensi family era derby with Lazio. With the club going in a new direction under the ownership of Italian-American entrepreneur Thomas DiBenedetto, this new-look Roma side has what it takes to get one over their bitter rivals.
A partner in Fenway Sports Group, the parent investment company of American baseball side Boston Red Sox and Liverpool, DiBenedetto opened a new chapter in the Roma history book after acquiring controlling shares in the club. With new players such as Fernando Gago, Bojan Krkic, Maarten Stekelenburg and Simon Kjaer leading the pack, Roma have their eyes on the ultimate Serie A prize. Having labelled the Lazio-Rome match as a “civil war”, DiBenedetto knows that there will not be any love lost between the two sides come kick-off.
A win over Lazio would surely elevate coach Luis Enrique out of the “danger zone”, after the Spaniard was the subject of vast criticism following a string of poor results and fell out with club captain and emblem Francesco Totti. With time certainly not on his side, the former Barcelona and Real Madrid player must make good on his promise to bring Catalan football to Italy.
Recent form
Lazio:
Lazio 0-0 Palermo (25/09; Serie A)
Sporting Lisbon 2-1 Lazio
(29/09; Europa League)
Fiorentina 1-2 Lazio (02/10; Serie A)
Roma:
Roma 1-1 Siena (22/09; Serie A)
Parma 0-1 Roma (25/09; Serie A)
Roma 3-1 Atalanta (01/10; Serie A)
Key absences
Lazio: Miroslav Klose (doubt); Andre Dias (doubt); Simone Del Nero (doubt)
Roma: Francesco Totti; Marco Boriello (doubt); Juan (doubt); Eric Lamela (doubt)
Players to watch
Lazio – Djibril Cisse: Klose might have attracted the majority of the attention so far, but Cisse will have every chance to show his worth should the Polish-German sit this one out. The Frenchman’s career has not been the same since he left Liverpool and he will be looking to make good of this top level chance.
Roma – Bojan Krkic: The young Spaniard is finally coming to life having left the Camp Nou for new pastures in Italy. Seeing that evolution was impossible in Lionel Messi’s shadow, Krkic is also looking forward to a fresh start. The 21-year-old hit a spell of good form a fortnight ago, and will have every reason to continue in the same vein on this occasion.
Match Prediction
Both teams are suffering from a growing injury list, banning usual stars of the show – such as Totti – from lighting up this particular event. However, that does not mean that this match will not have its share of action and controversy. At such a stage of the season, neither team seems better than the other. A draw between the two sides looks the most likely outcome.
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