Lazio host Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday afternoon in the Roman derby and Stefano Pioli’s side will be aiming to secure a victory over their high-flying rivals.
The Biancocelesti drew 1-1 away to AC Milan before the international break and they are currently sitting eighth in the Serie A table with 42 points after 30 rounds. The Giallorossi drew 1-1 at home to Inter in the previous round and that game ended an eight-match winning streak for Luciano Spalletti’s team.
Roma won 2-0 in the latest Derby della Capitale back in round 12 thanks to goals from Edin Dzeko and Gervinho, who has now departed the club for Chinese side Hebei China Fortune, with that match giving the Lupi their third win in the last five derbies.
The 2013 Coppa Italia Final was the last time Lazio defeated Roma in a competitive fixture, when Senad Lulic’s solitary goal was enough to give the Aquile victory, and their last Serie A win against the Giallorossi was in November 2012, when they won 3-2.
Lulic is suspended for one match after he was sent-off against AC Milan while Ricardo Kishna is still out with a hamstring injury. Abdoulay Konko, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Stefan Radu and Dusan Basta will undergo fitness tests to see if they have completely recovered from muscular injuries of their own.
Brazilian defender Mauricio is expected to return the Lazio’s starting line-up at the expense of Milan Bisevac while Alessandro Matri will probably retain his place at centre-forward ahead of Miroslav Klose.
Spalletti will have almost a full strength team to choose from and only fringe players such as Norbert Gyomber and Ezequiel Ponce will be missing due to injuries to their toe and knee respectively. Winger Stephan El Shaarawy will return from international duties with Italy but he is likely to start on the bench against Lazio.
Form Guide: Lazio (D-L-D-W-D) Roma (W-W-W-W-D)
Expected Starting XIs
Lazio: Marchetti; Patric, Mauricio, Hoedt, Braafheid; Cataldi, Biglia, Parolo; Candreva, Matri, Felipe Anderson
Roma: Szczesny; Florenzi, Manolas, Rudiger, Digne; Pjanic, Keita, Nainggolan; Salah, Perotti; Dzeko
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com