Serie A: The Biggest Rome Derby in Years!

Lazio vs AS Roma

All roads lead to Rome for the Serie A match of the weekend on Sunday when Lazio and Roma clash for the local bragging rights and a crucial three points.

The Serie A 2021 betting odds suggest this is a wide open title race with six teams including Roma, who are having realistic hopes of Scudetto glory, and Lazio more likely to be aiming for a Champions League spot.

After five rounds, Napoli have taken the lead with a perfect 15 points, trailed by the two Milan giants on 13 points and Roma on 12.

Lazio currently sit in eighth place on eight points and nicely in touch as well as being three points ahead of Juventus, who have made a painfully slow start.

A victory in the Rome derby would propel Lazio into the mix, while a win for Roma could lift them level with the leaders and cement a place in the top four.

Talking Points

Battle of the ex-Blues

Two former Chelsea bosses come face-to-face at the Stadio Olimpico in this blockbuster clash to add even more bite to the fixture than usual!

Maurizio Sarri took over at Lazio in the summer following the departure of Simone Inzaghi to Inter Milan and he returns to Serie A where he had great success at Napoli and then as boss of Juventus.

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But those stints in Italy sandwiched a season in the Premier League where he managed Chelsea, winning the Europa League while in West London.

Roma boss Jose Mourinho is a bigger fan-favourite at Stamford Bridge having led Chelsea to a first Premier League title back in 2005, and then two more as well as one FA Cup and three League Cups.

He’s a legend with Blues fans and now the manager formally known as the ”Special One” is doing the business again with I Giallorossi.

Lazio’s explosive start in danger of disappearing

I Biancoceleste started the 2021/22 campaign with a bang, winning 1-3 away to Empoli and then 6-1 at home to Spezia.

But then, losing 2-0 to AC Milan toppled Lazio from the summit of the league as well as taking the wind from their sails and two draws followed against Cagliari and Torino.

Ciro Immobile with six goals leads the race for the Capocannnoniere, two ahead of Edin Dzeko who is now plying his trade at Inter Milan after a successful five-year stint at Roma.

Immobile is a crucial player in the Lazio side and his goals can fire them higher up the league or at least prevent them from drifting lower.

He converted an injury time penalty to save Lazio a point away to Torino last week and he will be Lazio’s biggest threat once again in the derby.

Midfield general Sergej Milinkovic-Savic will aim to dominate the middle of the park while wide-man Felipe Anderson can supply ammunition for Immobile.

Pellegrini out for Roma

Serie A: Lorenzo Pellegrini will be a big loss for AS Roma for their upcoming derby against Lazio — AS Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini walks off the pitch after he received a red card during their Serie A clash against Udinese

The midfield pairing of Jordan Veretout and skipper Lorenzo Pellegrini has been very productive so far for Roma, but it will be broken up on Sunday after Pellegrini received his marching orders for two yellow cards at the end of I Giallorossi’s win away to Udinese last week.

Like Veretout, he has scored three goals but has also made three assists and the captain will be a big loss for Roma.

It could mean a start for Amadou Diawara. Although he is more defencively-inclined, the Guinean might be in Mourinho’s thoughts to stem the flow of chances to Immobile.

The boss plundered the Premier League for two superb signings in the summer which strengthen his squad significantly, bringing in Portugal keeper Rui Patricio from Wolves and striker Tammy Abraham from Chelsea.

Abraham has made a good start with I Giallorossi, contributing two goals and two assists so far.

After a nice opening run of Serie A 2021 news results, a 3-2 defeat away to Hellas Verona ended Mourinho’s honeymoon period. But his team got back on track against Udinese and will be ready for Lazio.

History

The Rome Derbies have been fiercely contested over the years and Roma have had the edge in the last 62 games, winning 26 matches to Lazio’s 18 and there have been 18 draws.

Last season, Roma won their home tie 2-0 while Lazio triumphed 3-0 with the crowd advantage.

While Lazio are without a win in four, they are unbeaten in 12 matches at the Stadio Olimpico and have not lost at home to Roma in their last five encounters.

Betting Tip

	Lazio vs AS Roma	AS Roma Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 1.99
	Septemeber 27, 12:00 (GMT+8)

The SBOTOP odds make this a clash almost too tight to call, with Lazio at 2.56 and Roma at 2.632 while the draw available at the bigger price of 3.06.

1-1 draw is the most likely result at odds of 5.80 and Lazio are a tough nut to crack in Rome, but I’m leaning towards Mourinho’s high quality bunch to have a happy Sunday.