Lazio vs Roma

The iconic ‘Derby della Capitale’ takes place at the Stadio Olimpico as bitter rivals Lazio and Roma go head-to-head in a mouth-watering Serie A showdown.

Lazio’s Serie A adventure under new boss Maurizio Sarri was off to a flying start as they pulled off back-to-back turnarounds to win their inaugural two top-flight fixtures by an aggregate score of 9-2. However, the ‘Biancocelesti’ have since suffered a massive dip in form, going winless in their subsequent three league matches (D2, L1), conceding first twice in that sequence. After drawing their last two Serie A games, Lazio could make it three stalemates in a row in the competition for the first time since December 2018. As long as they avoid defeat here, the hosts will equal their longest five-game unbeaten streak in home Serie A H2Hs, a feat they last achieved in 2000. Lazio’s home league form can all but encourage the fans, as they’ve not lost any of their 14 such fixtures in 2021 (W12, D2).

In the meantime, Jose Mourinho has defied his critics, navigating Roma to four wins in five Serie A matches in charge, barring an underwhelming 3-2 away loss to Hellas Verona in their most recent league trip. Before eking out a 1-0 home win over Udinese last time out, each of Roma’s previous four Serie A games under Mourinho had featured 3+ total goals, with three of them seeing both teams on the scoresheet. The Portuguese manager looks to have abandoned his ‘park-the-bus’ approach and could lead Roma to finding the net in ten consecutive Serie A fixtures for the first time since May 2019. However, Roma’s defensive frailties have seen them fail to keep a clean sheet in eight of their last nine Serie A away games, conceding 2+ goals in each of the remaining eight!