Separated by just one point and one place in the Serie A standings, eternal rivals Roma and Lazio clash at Stadio Olimpico, in Sunday's Derby della Capitale.
Having sealed progress in Europe this week, the Giallorossi also hold the upper hand after 12 rounds of the Italian top flight, while their Biancocelesti counterparts have lost twice in the last few days; ending a fantastic run of form.
Match preview
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First played in 1929, the Rome Derby sees two of Calcio's giants contest a bitter rivalry at least twice annually, and on this occasion, the feuding pair meet at a time when their fortunes are closely linked.
While they sit side-by-side in the Serie A standings, both teams were also in Europa League action on Thursday night, when either needed points to progress in the competition. In Roma's case, they are now bound for a playoff against one of the Champions League drop-outs, after finishing second in Group C.
The Giallorossi secured passage to the knockout stages by trailing in behind Real Betis, as they came from a goal down at half time to beat their direct rivals for qualification, Ludogorets, at Stadio Olimpico. A pair of penalties from captain Lorenzo Pellegrini put Jose Mourinho's men in front, before Nicolo Zaniolo polished the Bulgarian champions off with an 85th-minute strike.
Now, after just two days rest, Roma turn their focus to the all-important derby, which has consequences for their top-four aspirations as well as in terms of capital city supremacy.
Ten points adrift of leaders Napoli despite Monday's win over Hellas Verona, the Giallorossi sit fourth in Serie A; ahead of not only Lazio but also Inter and Juventus.
Having won 3-0 in the most recent meeting with their city rivals, back in March, Roma have lost just two of their last 24 league games against them as 'hosts' - and none since April 2017. That should leave Mourinho and co feeling confident of another success on Sunday, when they attempt to tame the Aquile again.
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While Lazio have lost four of their last five derbies as the 'away' side at the Olimpico, this season they have joined Roma in being among the clubs to have most improved their points tally compared to this time last year.
Mourinho's men are six points ahead of where they were 12 months ago (25 vs 19), but Maurizio Sarri's side have also fared better so far, with three more.
That total is still healthy despite a shock setback at home to Salernitana last weekend, when the Biancocelesti suffered their first defeat in nine games due to a second-half collapse.
Not only have Lazio therefore slipped to fifth in the table, but conceding three times to their southern counterparts brought a halt to the best streak of clean sheets throughout the top five European leagues. Nonetheless, they were still on the cusp of qualification from Group F of the Europa League just a few days later.
Requiring just a point at De Kuip on Thursday, the Aquile's wings were clipped by Feyenoord, who went ahead midway through the second half and managed to pip Sarri's men to a place in the top two. Lazio therefore drop into the Europa Conference League after finishing third, despite ending level on points with all three of their opponents.
Now forced to participate in the continent's third-tier tournament - which Roma won the first edition of last term - they will be intent on reigniting their top-four challenge, in order to avoid a similar fate next term.
Lazio last lost successive Serie A matches a year ago, but without captain Ciro Immobile through injury and chief creator Sergej Milinkovic-Savic due to a controversial suspension, they will have their work cut out to topple Roma. Then, they conclude the first part of their campaign by tackling Monza in midweek before finishing up away to Juventus.
Team News
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After making some changes in their midweek win over Ludogorets, for Sunday's derby, Roma should revert to their strongest side, which would see Andrea Belotti drop to the bench and Nicolo Zaniolo rewarded for a bright substitute performance on Thursday.
Nicola Zalewski will most likely displace Stephan El Shaarawy on the left flank, and the vast experience of Nemanja Matic could be utilised in place of Mady Camara.
Following his late intervention versus Verona, the Giallorossi's Cristian Volpato (born in 2003) is the youngest player to have both scored and provided an assist in Serie A this season: on Sunday the Australia-born forward will be 18 years and 356 days old, and could become the second-youngest Rome Derby scorer.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho is still without Paulo Dybala, Georginio Wijnaldum and Leonardo Spinazzola, who are all sidelined by injury.
Mourinho's fellow ex-Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri also has some significant absentees, as Ciro Immobile will miss the big occasion - though he could now be back before the World Cup break - and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's booking last week means the Serbian star will have to watch on from the stands.
Since Sarri joined Lazio last year, Milinkovic-Savic has missed only one of 50 Serie A matches; also due to suspension. His absence will probably be covered by Luis Alberto, with Felipe Anderson stepping into Immobile's boots as a 'false nine' up front.
Mattia Zaccagni and ex-Giallorosso Pedro should join the latter in the Aquile's attacking triumvirate, while young Matteo Cancellieri is also available from the bench.
Roma possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Karsdorp, Cristante, Matic, Zalewski; Pellegrini, Zaniolo; Abraham
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Lazzari, Casale, Romagnoli, Marusic; Vecino, Cataldi, Alberto; Pedro, Anderson, Zaccagni
We say: Roma 2-1 Lazio
The Derby della Capitale has seen more red cards than any other fixture in Serie A since the turn of the century, yet there has been just one dismissal in the six most recent meetings between Lazio and Roma. With so much at stake, a more ill-tempered encounter could break out, which might suit the Giallorossi more as Mourinho's pragmatism trumps 'Sarrisimo' again.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
