AS Roma vs. Lazio: Derby della Capitale, Serie A Preview
Vincenzo Montella’s AS Roma take on Edy Reja’s Lazio in the Derby della Capitale in the Italian Serie A on Sunday, 13 March, 2011.
The clash is crucial for both sides as the UEFA Champions League qualification spot is at stake and will be played at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
The Capital derby is one of the most anticipated matches of the season and is termed as one of the most heated clashes of the country. The reverse fixture in the Serie A was won by Rome 2-0 with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mirko-Vucinic-c26024 scoring the goals.
AS Roma
The Giallorossi have had a poor season by their standards and currently sit in sixth place with 46 points. Roma have seen a revival recently under new manager Vincenzo Montella and are unbeaten in the Serie A under him after Claudio Ranieri resigned in February
2011.
Roma have won two of the three matches played in the League under Montella but have been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League recently at the hands of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ukraine-c3032 giants Shakhtar Donetsk.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lazio-c39775
Lazio have had a defining season under new coach Edy Reja and headed the Serie A rankings for the first half of the ongoing 2010-11 season. The Rome-based club has seen a drop in form recently but are still in contention for the UEFA Champions League next
season and are facing tough competition from the likes of Udinese and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roma-c31603 for the fourth spot.
Lazio are fourth with 51 points in the Serie A table and occupy the final spot for qualification for Europe’s premier club competition. The Biancazzurri have won three and lost once in the last five matches played in the Serie A with the only loss coming
against Cagliari.
Team News
AS Roma
The Giallorossi will welcome back Francesco Totti in the starting line-up after the veteran was an unused substitute against Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League. Totti will start as the lone striker upfront with Mirko Vucinic playing just behind
him as the second striker. Daniel De Rossi and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Pizarro-c10581 will start in centre midfield for the Romans.
Lazio
The away side will be without http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Hernanes-c16150 as the second striker. Mauro Zarate and Giuseppe Sculli will provide support from the respective wings.
Players to watch
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Francesco-Totti-c13940
The veteran has been an inspirational figure for the club for many years and will be looking to put his club back on the winning track with another influential performance. The striker has scored seven goals in the current season for the Giallorossi and
will be aiming to add more to that tally.
Hernanes
The Brazilian has been sensational since arriving from Sao Paolo in summer of 2010 and is the club’s top goal scorer with eight goals already. The 25-year-old will be looking to put in a match winning performance to boost Lazio’s chances of qualifying for
the Champions League next year.
Prediction
Roma’s home record has been good in the ongoing season and it seems unlikely that Lazio will be able to beat the Giallorossi as they have been brilliant in the League recently. Roma are expected to beat Lazio 3-1.
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