Now it's getting serious! The remote derby between Rome and Lazio continues very closely, even more so now that the two are divided by just one point. Up for grabs is not only second place or the Champions League area, but city supremacy: something that, in the capital, is worth more than anything else. The double challenge will take place in the evening (at 20.45), with the Giallorossi on the Cesena field and the Biancocelesti at the Olimpico against Verona. We said only one point of difference, yet, watching the games, there would seem to be a much more important distance. In fact, Lazio is experiencing a golden moment, enhanced by 5 consecutive victories and an amazing psychophysical condition, while Roma is in full crisis. The last week confirmed what had been in the air for some time: other than the Scudetto, this too will be a season without trophies. The elimination from the Europa League then unleashed the anger of the fans, furious at the mere thought of being overtaken by Lazio. That's why, at Manuzzi, the Giallorossi really can't afford mistakes. “We will all emerge from the difficult moment together – Garcia's words. – We have to put trust, desire and anger into play. And then it will be essential to remain united with our fans, even if the respect must be mutual ”. The French coach has ended up in the crosshairs of criticism, although, to date, the real defendant from the square is Walter Sabatini. In all likelihood, the sports director will leave Rome at the end of the season (there is talk of Branca instead of him) and who knows if Garcia is also contemplating a farewell (the rumors about Mazzarri have resurfaced for a few days). "In the future I'd like to win here, but I won't decide on my own" laconically commented the coach, who will have to do without Totti tonight. The captain has accused a muscle strain and won't even be on the bench: in his place Iturbe, for a trident without points of reference with Gervinho and Ljajic. Heavy absence also for Di Carlo, forced to give up on Brienza: the chips will thus be focused on the Defrel-Djuric duo.
Very different climate in the Lazio house, where trust and conviction reign, as well as that subtle pleasure in seeing so much trouble on the other side of the Tiber. The race of recent times (5 consecutive victories with Udinese, Palermo, Sassuolo, Fiorentina and Turin) has brought the team close to second place but woe to let their guard down: Naples, Fiorentina and Sampdoria would be ready to take advantage of it. “We're fine and we don't have vertigo – joked Pioli. – However, we must not think about second place but match after match. We know that there are no easy games in our championship and we will have to be careful against Verona too: that Toni up front always scores…". True, indeed very true. Even in Formello, however, they have a certain confidence in scoring: between Klose, Mauri, Felipe Anderson and Candreva there is only an embarrassment of choice. Pioli seems intent on having all his stars play from the start in a front-wheel drive 4-2-3-1: Biglia and Parolo in front of the defence, Candreva, Mauri and Felipe Anderson in the trocar, Klose in attack. Mandorlini will bet everything on the usual Toni, so the years never seem to go by.
