As Roma and Lazio gear up for the highly anticipated Derby della Capitale, both teams are dealing with player availability issues. Roma manager Claudio Ranieri faces a relatively short injury list, with only Bryan Cristante and Zeki Celik unavailable due to an ankle injury and illness, respectively.
Ranieri is likely to field a similar lineup to the one that faced Milan recently. Artem Dovbyk is expected to lead the attack, with Paulo Dybala in support. However, Dybala’s recent goal drought against Lazio – failing to score in his last eight appearances against them after netting seven times in his first ten – adds an intriguing subplot to the match.
In a surprising twist, Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini might find himself on the bench. Ranieri has suggested that ongoing tensions between Pellegrini and the Roma fans have affected the midfielder’s performance, potentially influencing team selection.
On the Lazio side, manager Marco Baroni has some decisions to make regarding his attacking lineup. He must choose between reintroducing Boulaye Dia and Gustav Isaksen or sticking with the forward line that featured last weekend, including goalscorer Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
Taty Castellanos is set to start as Lazio’s central striker, supported by captain Mattia Zaccagni, who has already etched his name in derby folklore with two match-winning goals since joining the Biancocelesti.
Lazio will be without midfielder Matias Vecino and former Roma player Pedro due to injuries. However, there’s a possibility that Tijjani Noslin could recover from an ankle injury in time to make the substitutes’ bench.
Roma (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Mancini, Hummels, Ndicka; Saelemaekers, Paredes, Kone, Angelino; Dybala, El Shaarawy; Dovbyk
Lazio (4-2-3-1): Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen, Dele-Bashiru, Zaccagni; Castellanos
