A radically different Derby della Capitale could unfold on Saturday evening, as Serie A giants Roma and Lazio go toe to toe at Stadio Olimpico.
Since their goalless draw in November's reverse fixture - and a subsequent Coppa Italia win for the Biancocelesti - both clubs have appointed new managers, and European qualification is still in sight for the two Eternal City foes.
Match preview
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This week's contest will be the 183rd Rome derby across all competitions, and since the first official meeting of Roma and Lazio in December 1929, there have been countless controversies and incidents that are still hotly debated in the Italian capital and beyond.
Of late, Roma have been on the wrong end of results against their most loathed rivals, and January's Coppa Italia loss proved almost the final straw for an increasingly concerned board, who ejected the Giallorossi's antihero Jose Mourinho just a few days later.
Then seemingly destined for a mid-table finish, Roma have since risen up the standings and now occupy fifth place following a somewhat frustrating 0-0 draw with Lecce last time out.
Under returning club legend Daniele De Rossi, they are on the hunt for a precious top-four finish - albeit there could ultimately be five Champions League spots up for grabs next month - and despite dropping points down at Via del Mare, their unbeaten streak was extended to six Serie A matches.
Roma have lost just one of 10 league games under De Rossi, picking up 23 points along the way, and only two previous coaches have accrued more from their first 10 top-flight fixtures in charge of the Giallorossi so far this century.
Also set to meet AC Milan in the Europa League quarter-finals next week - when they will play out the first leg of an enticing all-Italian clash at San Siro - Roma now return to home soil, where they have thrived this season, winning 10 of 15 league matches as hosts.
However, they have failed to find the net in their last four meetings with Lazio, leaving them in danger of going five games without scoring past their bitterest foes for the first time ever.
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Throughout that run, Lazio have won three and drawn one against Roma, and they will now be aiming to go five derbies unbeaten for the first time since 2013.
Even in the absence of notorious firebrand Mourinho and recently departed Biancocelesti boss Maurizio Sarri, Saturday's clash is sure to be a combustible occasion as Lazio (79) and Roma (78) are two of Serie A's top three in terms of cards received this season - and Sarri's successor is no shrinking violet.
Igor Tudor made a fine start to life at Stadio Olimpico by beating former club Juventus last weekend, when Adam Marusic stole maximum points with a stoppage-time winner, helping his new club up to seventh in the standings.
Tudor's side are still six points behind Roma, though, and their joy at conquering Juve was fairly short-lived, given a chastening 2-0 Coppa Italia loss to the same opponents in midweek.
The second leg of that tie will take place in Rome later this month, with a spectacular turnaround now required to reach the final, but first the Biancocelesti must focus on salvaging something from a dismal league campaign.
In addition to shipping more goals than last season, when Sarri led them to a runners-up finish, Lazio have struggled to produce the goods up front this term - they lie 10th in the Serie A goal rankings and 15th for shots taken.
While Romelu Lukaku and Paulo Dybala are already in double figures for Roma, Ciro Immobile (six), Mattia Zaccagni and Taty Castellanos (both four) are their leading scorers so far. Yet, it could take just one moment of magic to win the latest Derby della Capitale.
Team News
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Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini returns from suspension in time for the derby and will take his place in midfield, with Leandro Paredes and Bryan Cristante most likely joining him in the Giallorossi's engine room.
Paulo Dybala has fully recovered from his latest injury and, after making a brief cameo against Lecce, should now start in an attacking trident also featuring Romelu Lukaku and Stephan El Shaarawy. On average, Dybala has been directly involved in a goal every 80 minutes this season; however, after scoring seven times in his first 10 league games against Lazio, he has since failed to find the net in each of the last seven.
At the back, Evan Ndicka must serve a one-match ban, so Diego Llorente or Dean Huijsen could deputise; Danish full-back Rasmus Kristensen is still sidelined by a thigh problem.
Lazio, meanwhile, will be without the services of Mattia Zaccagni, who was forced off early in Tuesday's Coppa Italia tie. Gustav Isaksen replaced the Italy international on that occasion, though ex-Roma forward Pedro offers Igor Tudor a more experienced alternative and would love to get one over on his old club.
First-choice goalkeeper Ivan Provedel (ankle), Manuel Lazzari (calf) and Nicolo Rovella (groin) are also unlikely to be passed fit for Saturday's game.
Set to beat Taty Castellanos to selection up front, captain Ciro Immobile has scored four Serie A goals for Lazio against Roma to date, but his most recent came back in January 2021.
Roma possible starting lineup:
Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Llorente, Spinazzola; Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini; Dybala, Lukaku, El Shaarawy
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Mandas; Casale, Romagnoli, Gila; Marusic, Guendouzi, Cataldi, Anderson; Alberto, Kamada; Immobile
We say: Roma 1-0 Lazio
Roma have not won a Derby della Capitale since March 2022, but with both momentum and club icon Daniele De Rossi on their side, they can end that drought this weekend. Goal-shy Lazio are still a work in progress under Igor Tudor, who is trying to unpick two years of 'Sarri-ball'.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
