<span class="titolo">Serie A Preview: Roma – Lazio</span></p> <span class="sommario">Who: Roma (2nd place, 18 points) v Lazio (14th, 10 points) When: Wednesday, 31st October 2007, kick-off 20:30 Where: Stadio Olimpico, Roma</span></p> The game of round ten in the Serie A season sees high flyers Roma take on Lazio, in theexplosive Derby della Capitale.</p> With the two sides surprisingly at different ends of the table, they will have differing factors motivating them to emerge victorious in this contest.</p> Romaback on track </p> Two solid victories in a matter of five days – that’s all that was required for Roma to get their season back on track.</p> Having now well and truly recovered froma difficult run of form, the Giallorossi will be expected to win against their fierce rivals this Wednesday, and there will be no excuses if they don’t.</p> Prior to their victory against Milan, Roma had won just once in five league matches, conceding twelve goals in that time.</p> However after two solid defensive performances against Milan and Sporting in the Champions League, these issues seem to now be a thing of the past. Victory this weekend in the Derby della Capitale could be the catalyst for a superb season.</p> Not only will it provide them with an added boost of confidencebut it will also mean three successive victories against quality opposition.</p> Furthermore, with league leaders Inter facing a tricky task at home to Genoa; the Giallorossi will see this game as a chance of minimizing the Nerazzurri’s lead at the top.</p> This weekend Roma face lowly Empoli away, whilst Inter travel to Turin to face Juventus, in what is sure to be a difficult task for them. Therefore Roma may be top of the Serie A table by Sunday evening.</p> What next for Lazio? </p> Having won just three matches out of fourteen in all competitions this season, the Biancocelesti have had a horrid start to the new campaign. They haven’t lost much from last season, so it’s difficult to note what exactly the problem is for them.</p> If they have any desire to repeat the form that saw them qualify for the Champions League last season, then they must start performing, starting this week against Roma.</p> Winning the Derby della Capitale is an amazing accomplishment, and with the form that Lazio are in at the moment, if they can achieve such a feat, mark my words, there season will dramatically turn around.</p> We are only nine rounds into the season, and the Biancocelesti are already eleven points of the pace. A loss here could make it fourteen off the pace, and then instead of worrying about qualifying for the Champions League, they may find themselves worrying about avoiding relegation.</p> Lazio have been such a consistent side over the past few seasons, so it’s extremely strange to see them so low in the table. However, we must remember that they did have a similar start to last season, and they recovered nicely, to achieve qualification to the Champions League, as mentioned earlier.</p> It’s a do or die contest for the Biancocelesti, as a win will get them back on track, whilst a loss will end all hope. Sure it’s only round 10; however there are no games in any season more vital than this derby. They will be tough and they will be competitive, however will they have enough to match up to the might of Roma? We will find out.</p> FORM GUIDE </p> Roma </p> October 28 v Milan (A) WON 1-0</p> October 23 v Sporting (H) WON 2-1 (Champions League)</p> October 20 v Napoli (H) DREW 4-4</p> October 7 v Parma (A) WON 3-0</p> October 2 v Man United (A) LOSS 0-1 (Champions League)</p> Lazio </p> October 28 v Udinese (H) LOSS 0-1</p> October 23 v Werder Bremen (A) LOSS 2-1 (Champions League)</p> October 20 v Livorno (A) WON 1-0</p> October 7 v Milan (H) LOSS 1-5</p> October 2 v Real Madrid (H) DREW 2-2 (Champions League)</p> TEAM NEWS </p> Roma </p> The news on the injury front for Roma remains the same, as Aquilani is still out with a long term thigh injury, whilst Taddei is stillmissing with a calf injury, however he should be back in action soon. Once again, Pizarro will ably replace Aquilani in the defensive midfieldrole.</p> Talsimanic captain Francesco Totti is rated as 50/50 and if he fails to recover in time, expect new hero Mirko Vucinic to slot nicely into his role.</p> Lazio</p> Their form this season hasn’t been good, and the news on the injury front is even worse. With a host of big names, including Behrami, Siviglia, Mauri, Ledesma and Diakite, all out injured for some time, Lazio have been relying on cover from their reserve players for the majority of the season.</p> Nothing seems to be going right for the Biancocelesti this season, and I’m sure that Coach Delio Rossi would do anything to have these injured players fit for the upcoming derby. In better news for Rossi and his men, captain Zauri and Firmani both return from suspension, and there is a slight chance that Ledesma may play.</p> POSSIBLIE STARTING LINE-UPS </p> Roma (4-2-3-1) Doni; Tonetto, Juan, Mexes, Cicinho; Pizarro, De Rossi; Giuly, Perrotta, Mancini; Totti</p> Lazio (4-3-1-2) Ballotta; Scaloni, Stendardo, Cribari, Zauri; Mudingayi, Firmani, Mutarelli, Manfredini; Rocchi, Pandev</p> PLAYERS TO WATCH </p> Roma – Cicinho </p> The former Real Madrid star has failed to shine in his first ten or so matches for the club, however he has most definitely proved his worth following a superb performance against Milanat the weekend.</p> Ifhe can maintain the sort of form that saw him successfully create, defend and dazzle his way around his opponents against Milan, he will have a huge future ahead of him in the Eternal City.</p> Lazio – Goran Pandev</p> Pandev has been in good form this season, and along with Rocchi, they form a formidable attacking duo. With three goals in the league and a brace against Real Madrid in the Champions League, he is in goal scoring form, and will be a danger for the Roma defence come match day.</p> If the likes of Mexes and Juan can close down his attacking power, Roma will most likely come away with another clean sheet.</p> PREDICTION </p> Regardless of their respective positions in the table, the Derby della Capitale is always going to be one of the toughest and competitive games in the Serie A season. With Roma requiring three points to maintain the pressure on leaders Inter, and Lazio requiring a victory to restore some pride and self-belief, their motivating factors for winning differ.</p> Whether this will make a difference or not, I’m not sure, however what is clear is that if Roma are as good as they have proven in recent matches, they will comfortably defeat their struggling rivals this week.</p> </p> </p>
