And derby it is! The day most awaited by all Roma and Lazio players has arrived: this afternoon (15 pm) the Giallorossi and Biancocelesti will play for supremacy in the capital. The challenge, already hot in itself, was further charged by the usual turbulent eve. Reja's fault, who a few days ago had hoped for some injuries for his rivals. A joke (if you can call it that) that the Giallorossi world didn't like at all, with Rudi Garcia in the lead. “We are also educators, not just coaches – replied the Frenchman at the press conference. – If someone says something like this publicly, what can they say in the locker room? Who breaks a leg, who kills someone?!”. The output of the coach from Gorizia was actually unhappy, but in Rome, as we know, when there is the derby, everything is worth it. “I haven't slept all week – Reja explained in the conference. – I'm studying Roma, I'd like to trip her up. A draw would also be fine for me, but it is clear that with a victory the whole Lazio scenario would change and the controversies would cease". But if the Biancocelesti have an obligation to get results, the same goes for the Giallorossi too: Juve runs and missteps are not allowed. “The derby is felt more by the fans than by the players, even if we have Totti, De Rossi and Florenzi who experience it in a very particular way – thought Garcia. – We have all the keys to beat them, we have to win to give a signal to all the opponents”.
The standings say that Roma are favourites, but it shouldn't be forgotten that Lazio, under Reja's care, is making a great recovery. The Giallorossi also have the Coppa Italia match against Napoli in their legs, which they will also meet again on Wednesday. Garcia, however, does not make calculations and continues to field the best possible formation, obviously net of injuries. De Sanctis will be in goal, in defense 4-a-side with Maicon, Castan, Benatia and Torosidis. In midfield Pjanic favored over Nainggolan to compose the department together with De Rossi and Strootman, up front space for the trident Florenzi, Totti and Gervinho. Mirror form for Reja's Lazio, who switches to 4-3-3 just to create problems for the Giallorossi. Cavanda, Dias, Biava and Radu will play in front of Berisha, Ledesma, Gonzalez and Lulic in the midfield, Candreva, Klose and Keita in attack. Among the squad, 8 months later, Stefano Mauri will also return, whose disqualification has officially ended. Ironically, his last match was the derby on May 26, 2013, the one that awarded Lazio the Italian Cup.
