Roma and Lazio renew their bitter inner-city derby at the weekend as qualification for European places could be potentially on offer for one of these teams. Both sides are looking to write another chapter in one of the fiercest rivalries in Italian football.
Date: 06/04/2024
Location: Stadio Olimpico
Kick-off: 17:00 pm
Roma and Lazio are one of many inner-city rivalries in Serie A along with Juventus and Torino to name others. The rivalry dates back to 1927 when three clubs joined to form A.S Roma in the capital of Italy but Lazio were steadfast in not joining alliances. Politics and the current climate at the time wanted Rome to have a singular football team yet Lazio thwarted those plans entirely. Since then, this rivalry has been contested on and off the pitch ferociously by members of each club.
This fixture has higher stakes this season as both teams are chasing qualification places in European football for this season. For the hosts A.S. Roma, they have two routes potentially into next season’s Champions League through league position and the Europa League which they are still involved in. Lazio are in the same predicament, but they are involved in the league and Coppa Italia which could determine their European qualification this summer.
The hosts A.S Roma are currently fifth in Serie A with eight games left to go. If Roma were to beat their city rivals Lazio, they could potentially replace Bologna if Bologna were to lose their respective game. Roma’s goal difference would have them gain the advantage despite having the same number of points.
In the league campaign this season, Roma have obtained 52 points from 30 games – which gives them an average of 1.73 points per game. Roma’s campaign in general has been a turbulent one with the dismissal of Jose Mourinho but since Daniele De Rossi took over the helm, Roma have steadied the ship essentially. In the attacking areas of the team, they boast some terrific options with the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Paolo Dybala leading the line. Their attacking output sees them ranked third in Serie A in terms of goals scored. The home side have scored 55 goals in 30 games- which gives them an average of 1.83 goals scored per game.
On the defensive side of things, they have conceded 35 goals in those 30 games. On average Roma have conceded 1.16 goals per game – ten goals more than fourth-placed Bologna.
As for the visitors Lazio, they currently occupy seventh spot in the league and are five points behind their local rivals. Lazio are currently seventh in the league and occupy a Europa Conference League spot. A win over Roma won’t move Lazio in terms of league position but if results go their way, they will move within a single point from Atalanta.
The visitors have obtained 46 points from 30 games played so far this season. Lazio have averaged 1.5 points per game from those 46 points this season. The away side are worse off in the attacking areas than their city rivals Roma. After their 30 games played, Lazio scored 37 – which gives them an average of 1.2 goals scored per game.
Lazio are a more consistent outfit when it comes to the defensive areas, however. The away side have conceded 33 goals in 30 games and more importantly, they have conceded two fewer goals than Roma heading into this game.
Recent history between the two sides favours the away side, Lazio. Lazio have won three out of their last five games against Roma and are currently unbeaten in the last four derby games. The last game between the two sides was contested in a typical manner between the teams. Lazio won via a penalty, but the game was marred by three dismissals in injury time – one from Roma and two from Lazio. Roma’s last win over Lazio was in 2022 where Tammy Abraham scored a brace for the home side.
Serie A 
