This Sunday it’s time again for the always-laden Derby della Capitale. Last September the derby ended undecided (1-1), while last season the home team won big each time (3-0 for Lazio, 3-1 for AS Roma).
AS Roma:
AS Roma had a false start to the new year, losing both Torino and Juventus in-house. Last weekend the first win of 2020 was finally booked, the Romans were far too strong from Genoa. Justin Kluivert was back in the starting line-up for the first time since he got injured at the end of November and already gave an assist on Cengiz Under after six minutes. The Turkish midfielder can now count on Paolo Fonseca for a base position again due to the injury of Nicolo Zaniolo, who will be eliminated for the rest of the season.
Midweeks, reigning champion Juventus again proved too strong for the Giallorossi. This time the black-and-white had the win before the break, by hits from Ronaldo, Betancur and Bonucci it was 3-0 at halftime. Despite the hopeless situation, Roma came out of the dressing room well and had the best chances in the second half. A shot from Kalinic landed on the outside post and was not a goal, a shot from Under moments later came at the bottom of the bar and ended up via goalkeeper Buffon. I Lupi then had forty minutes to force an extension, but did not reach a connection goal.
Lazio:
Lazio does not seem to be stopping in the competition at the moment. They have been unbeaten fourteen league games in a row and have won the last eleven. This puts them high in the record books, only the Inter of 2006/2007 and the Juventus of 2015/2016 did better with seventeen and fifteen consecutive wins in one season, respectively. Last weekend, Sampdoria was knocked out in Rome, and Lazio had the three points within twenty minutes. Felipe Caicedo shows himself more and more positively in the shirt of the Biancocelesti and made the 1-0 after seven minutes. It was only the first time this season that the Ecuadorian scored when he has a base place, his previous, his other four hits he made during four raids of 63 minutes together. Immobile put the 3-0 on the scoreboard before half-time and finished his hat trick from the penalty spot in the second half.
Midweeks, Simone Inzaghi’s team was less successful in Naples. After two minutes, Insigne scored the opening goal on behalf of the troubled Napoli, a goal that Lazio never recovered. Immobile missed a penalty because he slipped, the top scorer hit the crossbar a bit later and Lazzari hit the post just before time. Although Napoli had far fewer chances than Lazio, it also had twice bad luck hitting the woodwork.
PREDICTION: Both teams to score / YES @ 1,47
