The most notable fixture coming up in this weekend’s Serie A clashes is undoubtedly the heated Rome derby: Roma vs Lazio. This long-standing rivalry was first played in 1929, marking this game as the 183rd derby between the two. This fixture typically provides a great, feisty spectacle.

In their last league encounter, the sides were locked in a 0-0 stalemate, and Roma have failed to score in the last four meetings between the two. Lazio remains unbeaten against Roma in these last four encounters. However, with new manager Danielle De Rossi, who knows all too well about the spirit of this derby, Roma will be looking to turn their fortunes around as they chase 4th spot and a Champions League place. Lazio, currently sitting in 7th, will aim to beat Roma and close the gap between themselves and the European spots.

Players to watch out for in this game are the two main creators for their respective sides: Roma’s Paulo Dybala and Lazio’s Luis Alberto. Dybala has been in incredible form this season, registering 12 goals and 7 assists in Serie A. Lazio will rely on players such as former Arsenal midfielder Guendouzi to neutralize the threat posed by the Argentine’s goal scoring and creative abilities. Dybala’s partnership with Lukaku will also be something Lazio will need to neutralize, as the pair have formed a potent combination with their individual skills complementing each other well. Meanwhile, Roma will be tasked with stopping Spaniard Luis Alberto, who has scored 4 times and leads Lazio with 6 assists. Alberto, alongside Italian Ciro Immobile, will likely pose challenges for Roma’s backline, especially with N’dicka out suspended.

This derby is set to be a cracker, with the sides last meeting in January in the Coppa Italia, where 3 red cards and a 1-0 victory for Lazio provided great entertainment. The game averages 4.9 yellows per game, and with both sides gunning for Europe, one can expect this to be a feisty affair.