A derby of capital importance. The play on words, however obvious, gives an idea of the importance of this Rome-Lazio match (18 pm), the meaning of which goes far beyond the city's supremacy. In fact, at the Olimpico there are very heavy points up for grabs, even for the Scudetto: if Lazio were to win again, they would enter the fight against Juventus and Inter by right. However, even the Giallorossi, however detached, certainly cannot afford missteps: a question of classification but also of the environment, already irritated by the bad defeat in Turin. In short, the tension is very high and the fiery context (60 spectators are expected at the stadium as in the golden age) only increases the temperature even more. “It would be 3 very heavy points – confirmed Inzaghi. – From here to the end we have 19 finals to live one after the other, but this is a race that goes beyond the classification. In derbies, predictions are reset, that's why I asked the boys to keep their lucidity: woe to losing it, the episodes can compromise everything ".
The warning, evidently, is the result of what happened in Naples, where a folly by Lucas Leiva ended up complicating life for Lazio and sanctioning their elimination from the Italian Cup. The high ranking then can cause dizziness, even if it is right to recognize that the Biancocelesti have a grown-up attitude in this sense too. Obtaining the twelfth consecutive victory against Roma would then be yet another flagship of the season, but it is clear that the argument also applies to the other side: in fact, what greater joy would it be for the Giallorossi to stop their cousins right on the most Handsome? “It's a special match and the motivation is at its best – confirmed Fonseca. – The team is fine, they are confident and that's why I want to see courage. In fact, I am convinced that we can only win by playing well and with ambition: we will face Lazio to take the 3 points". The picture outlined by the coach, however, collides with the latest difficulties of his, both on and off the pitch.
The three defeats between the championship and the Italian Cup have somewhat weakened the enthusiasm, but above all the ghosts of injuries have returned to hover over Trigoria: after Zaniolo, Diawara also stopped and, at least for the moment, no help has arrived from the transfer market . “In the next few days we will sort everything out” Fonseca glossed over, evidently too busy with the upcoming derby. On paper, evidently, Lazio are much better off, moreover with an almost complete squad. In fact, Inzaghi will be able to field the 3-5-2 type with Strakosha in goal, Luiz Felipe, Acerbi and Radu in defense, Lazzari, Milinkovic-Savic, Lucas Leiva, Luis Alberto and Lulic in midfield, Correa and Immobile in attack. Many unavailable instead for Fonseca, who however will still be able to rely on a respectable 4-2-3-1 with Pau Lopez between the posts, Spinazzola, Mancini, Smalling and Kolarov in the back, Cristante and Veretout in the midfield, Under, Pellegrini and Kluivert behind the lone striker Dzeko.
