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Rome derby is chance for both Lazio and Roma


Bangladeshpost
Published : 25 Jan 2020 07:55 PM | Updated : 05 Sep 2020 08:03 PM

Roma welcome local rivals Lazio to the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, with the away side looking to continue their impressive run of 11 Serie A wins in a row, report agencies.

Lazio are now just six points adrift of table toppers Juventus with a game in hand, while Roma are a further seven points back in fourth.

Roma are enduring something of a disappointing campaign and, with just 20 rounds played, they are already out of the running for the Serie A title.

With two defeats from their last three matches, Roma have been vulnerable of late and have managed just five wins at home all season.

Injuries to key players have certainly played their role in recent weeks, with Roma having lost just twice in Serie A between August and December, but consecutive defeats on their return from the winter break have really 

damaged their hopes of securing Champions League football for next season.

A win would take them to within four points of Lazio, who sit third, but a defeat would leave them vulnerable to Atalanta and cut them further adrift from the pace setters.

Roma and Lazio drew in the reverse fixture in September, but the home side will face a very different Lazio side to the one that featured that day.

Simone Inzaghi's side are Serie A's form team and have won their past 11 league matches.

In total, they have scored 49 goals from just 19 league matches and Ciro Immobile has registered 23 goals from just 18 starts.

Having lost two of their opening five Serie A matches, they have not tasted defeat since and are the only team to have beaten Juve in the league this term.

A win against Roma would see Le Aquile keep pace with the league leaders, with Lazio also just two points behind second-placed Inter Milan. Roma should be able to call on midfielders Brian Cristante and Javier Pastore for this match, with both players yet to appear for the club in 2020.

Winger Justin Kluivert remains a doubt, though, after he picked up a thigh injury against Juve in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday.

Davide Zappacosta, Amadou Diawara and Nicolo Zaniolo are all out though.

Joaquin Correa and Lucas Leiva should be fit to face Roma, with both players being monitored ahead of Sunday.

Danilo Cataldi and Ricardo Kishna will both miss the trip, although Kishna is closing in on a return.