Lazio vs Roma: preview, team news, predicted line-up and prediction

Lazio are set to face off against AS Roma at the Stadio Olímpico in Serie A on Sunday evening.

After enjoying a promising campaign under Maurizio Sarri’s guidance last term, finishing second in the league behind Napoli, the Biancoceleste have endured a disappointing start to this season, accumulating 16 points from 11 games and sitting in mid-table.

Sarri’s side lost the previous game in the league against Bologna last weekend, but they will be coming into this game off the back of a crucial 1-0 victory over Feyenoord in the Champions League. So, Lazio will feel confident ahead of this crucial encounter.

On the other hand, Roma have also struggled to showcase their best this season, sitting seventh in the table with 17 points from 11 games.

The Giallorossi won their previous league fixture against Lecce last weekend despite trailing the game for over 90 minutes. But, they endured a defeat against Slavia Praha in the Europa League in midweek. So, they might be lacking confidence ahead of tomorrow’s game.

However, derby is a different game and more often than not, teams – who come into this game as underdogs – manage to take full points. So, an encounter such as this is always an even contest.

Previous meetings

This is the 197th Derby della Capitale and Roma have been the dominant force in this fixture, winning 73 times to Lazio’s 57 and the rest have ended in a stalemate.

However, the Biancoceleste have won three of the last four encounters against Roma so the Blue half of Rome will be hoping to continue their impressive form versus their city rivals in this game.

How to watch

The game will kick off at 5 pm UK time and the match will be televised live on TNT Sports 2 channel in the UK. Match-going fans can buy AS Roma tickets at reseller sites such as seatsnet.com.

Team news

Lazio will be without Nicolo Casale for this encounter due to injury, while Mattia Zaccagni could also remain sidelined tomorrow for his injury.

Apart from them, Luis Alberto and Adam Marusic are in doubt ahead of this fixture owing to their respective issues. But, the Lazio fans will be hoping that their creative star Alberto will be able to feature tomorrow and show his magic versus their adversaries.

As for Roma, Chris Smalling is set to be unavailable for selection in this fixture due to a knee issue. Tammy Abraham and Marash Kumbulla have been sidelined for long-term injury problems so they aren’t in contention to feature in this encounter.

Lorenzo Pellegrini and Leonardo Spinazzola were unavailable for selection over the last few weeks owing to their respective issues. But, they should return to action tomorrow.

Leandro Paredes was suspended in last weekend’s victory over Lecce, but he is available for selection in this fixture and is likely to be returning to Jose Mourinho’s first eleven on Sunday.

Predicted line-up

Sarri likes to deploy the 4-3-3 system and it’s going to be the same in this game. Ivan Provedel should start in goal for the Biancoceleste and in front of him, Manuel Lazzari, Patric, Alessio Romagnoli and Marusic should be the back four for Lazio.

Nicolo Rovella could commence in the deep-lying playmaker position and on either side of the Italian, Matteo Guendouzi and Alberto might complete the midfield trio.

Pedro is likely to start on the left flank in the absence of Zaccagni, while Felipe Anderson should commence on the opposite side. Ciro Immobile is expected to lead the line for Lazio in this crucial fixture.

Expected Lazio line-up vs Roma

Provedel; Lazzari, Patric, Romagnoli, Marusic; Rovella, Guendouzi, Alberto; Pedro, Immobile, Anderson

As for Roma, Mourinho has been using the 3-5-2 formation this season and it’s unlikely to be anything different tomorrow. So, Rui Patricio should be in goal for the Giallorossi, while Gianluca Mancini, Diego Llorente and Evan Ndicka could be the back three.

Rick Karsdorp and Spinazzola are expected to be the wing-backs for Roma with Bryan Cristante, Paredes and Houssem Aouar likely to be deployed in midfield. Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku should commence in the centre-forward for Mourinho’s side tomorrow.

Expected Roma line-up vs Lazio

Patricio; Mancini, Llorente, Ndicka; Karsdorp, Cristante, Paredes, Aouar, Spinazzola; Dybala, Lukaku

Key players

Immobile has been the main goal-scorer of Lazio over the last few years, but he has struggled to perform at his best in recent times. But, the Biancoceleste fans will be hoping that the Italian will be able to put his name on the scoresheet tomorrow and help his side get all three points.

Pedro and Anderson will be given the responsibility of stretching the opposition’s backline and creating holes for others to exploit. They will be looking to hurt the opposite with their pace in counter-attacking situations.

Alberto is the main creative player of Lazio and the onus will be on him to create opportunities for the attackers and finish those off if he gets any.

The boyhood Lazio fan, Romagnoli – who came through the Roma academy – will have the responsibility of organising the defence and starting the attack from the back.

As for Roma, Lukaku has had a solid start to this season after signing for Mourinho’s side last summer on a loan deal from Chelsea, scoring six goals in nine appearances. So, the Portuguese boss will be hoping that the Belgian will be able to score tomorrow and help Roma come away victorious from this encounter.

Dybala has managed to establish himself as a talismanic figure for the Giallorossi after joining the club at the beginning of last season. The responsibility will be on him to create chances for Lukaku and finish those off when he gets any. So, Lazio will have to keep a close eye on the Argentinian if they wish to take all three points from tomorrow’s game.

Although Mourinho is the master of organising the defence and making the opposition work hard to score goals, his side have struggled to keep clean-sheets this season. So, Ndicka, Llorente and Mancini will have to take extra responsibility in this game to stop the opposition from scoring.

Prediction

Hosts have had the last laugh in this fixture over the last few years so it is expected that Lazio might win this game tomorrow. However, Mourinho’s side won’t go down without fighting in a big game such as this one.

The Derby della Capitale has been an entertaining fixture and it’s likely to be yet another mouthwatering game for the football fans. But, it would be hard to separate these two sides tomorrow and the game could end up being a draw. Lazio 2-2 Roma