Derby della Capitale: Last-chance saloon for Lazio v Roma

Date: 22nd May 2015 at 10:00am
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Lazio and Roma clash on Monday in one of the most crucial Rome derbies of recent times, with each gunning for the last guaranteed Champions League spot.

Roma v Lazio

This fixture pits third versus second at the Stadio Olimpico, in an eagerly-awaited encounter that could have a defining effect upon the 2014-15 campaign for both sides.

Myriad permutations exist as to which side holds the advantage in the race for second place, but it’s the upcoming Derby della Capitale which is likely to have the biggest impact.

Roma v Lazio

Roma — the designated away team this time around — remain in the automatic slot just a solitary point above their arch-enemies, with two rounds of league action left to play.

Rudi Garcia’s men are in the stronger position on the face of it, as they’ll duly confirm a place in Europe’s elite competition with victory on Monday.

If the Giallorossi hadn’t accrued the highest number of drawn matches from any top-six outfit (13), then the raging debate over who will claim bragging rights in the Eternal City would have been settled well before now.

A lack of goals have contributed heavily to that frustrating situation, with 51 notched so far again the lowest amount within top-six circles, and also dwarfed by their local foes’ impressive total of 66.

Tellingly, a scan down the list beyond the names of five Lazio stars — Miroslav Klose, Felipe Anderson, Marco Parolo, Antonio Candreva and Stefano Mauri — is required before locating Roma’s highest-placed protagonist Adem Ljajic in the Serie A goalscorers’ chart.

Adem Ljajic Roma

Lazio themselves were struggling for consistent form until a stunning burst of eight consecutive wins over a two-month period from mid-February put them firmly on course for a top-three finish, and must now hope their evidently potent attack come to the fore in order to capitalise upon this vital opportunity.

The most recent meeting between the pair in January ended 2-2 when Francesco Totti inspired a comeback after Lazio raced into a two-goal lead within the first half-hour.

Francesco Totti Roma

A repeat of that outcome would suit Roma nicely, especially given the potential prospect of the Aquile being forced into a winner-takes-all clash against dark horses Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo on the final day, while the Giallorossi survey the less daunting task of hosting mid-table dwellers Palermo.

Titanic tussles of this nature are always hard-fought and mighty tough to predict, but anything less than three points would prove catastrophic to Stefano Pioli’s hopes of leading Lazio directly into the Champions League group stages — and perhaps put paid to their chances of participation in that feted competition altogether.

Roma v Lazio

 

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