Lazio vs AS Roma, Preview: Derby D-Day in the Eternal City

The Derby della Capitale is the marquee attraction in Serie A this weekend.

by Shaun Best

Nov 10, 2012, 2:37 AM UTC

Paolo Bruno

Part Of

Serie A 2012, Week 12: Lazio emperors of Rome; Juve, Napoli, Fiorentina all triumphant

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Lazio can boast of a clean sweep from last season’s two fiery meetings, and currently sit a place and two points above their rivals. However, prior to last season, Roma have emerged victorious in the previous five meetings.

The Giallorossi have had no problem scoring or conceding goals this season and come into this game on the back of a 4-1 demolition against Palermo. On the other hand, Lazio were humiliated 4-0 last Sunday at Catania. They rebounded with a 3-0 Europa League over Panathinaikos on Thursday evening, but it was mainly a second-string side and not many of the starters are tipped to line-up for this one.

Zdenek Zeman is no stranger to this match, having coached both sides in this fixture. The chain-smoking Czech may have lost more of those games than he won, but he still holds an advantage over Vladimir Petkovic, who is experiencing his first Eternal City duel.

Speaking about the game, Petkovic said: “From the first day I got here the talk has been about the derby, as everyone urged me to win it. We are playing for three points, but they are certainly worth their weight in gold.”

Roma will be without the suspended Mattia Destro after he picked up two bookings along with his first goal for the club last weekend, all in the space of seven minutes.

If Maarten Stekelenburg fails to recover from injury then rookie Mauro Goicoechea will take the gloves in only his second start for the club.

Minor knocks have kept both Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi from completing a full week of training, but both are expected to start come Sunday.

Lazio welcome Miroslav Klose back from suspension and Federico Marchetti from injury. Fit-again Stefan Radu could retain his place in defence after coming through the Panathinaikos game unscathed.

Argentinian starlet Erik Lamela will be looking to score in his sixth consecutive Roma game. This would see him surpass the feats of Totti, along with other club legends Abel Balbo and Enrique Guaita. Rodolfo Volk holds the overall record for the Giallorossi, scoring in seven straight games.

Eight penalties have been converted in the last six meetings. Roma have scored five, while Hernanes has rattled in all three of Lazio's spot kicks.

You have to go back 12 meetings, plus five and a half years to find the last Rome derby which finished 0-0. Expect goals.