Serie A is amidst an explosive weekend with several encounters of enormous magnitude. Two of Italian football’s three greatest rivalries are set to be staged back-to-back on Sunday evening.
On Saturday, Napoli edged Atalanta by two goals to one, extending their cushion at the head of the table to 6 points. With the FIFA World Cup on our doorstep, these results ought to be of huge significance heading into the season break.
Derby Della Capitale, 18H00 CET
The first heated clash of this double-bill thriller sees the Italian capital divided. The city of Rome prepares for an explosive battle as Roma take on Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.
Just a single point separates these city rivals ahead of kick-off Sunday evening. José Mourinho’s men have taken one victory more than their foes, although the Giallorossi have also incurred one defeat more than the men in white and sky blue.
Roma won all but one of their last seven in all competitions after going down to league leaders Napoli last month. Lazio on the other hand have been slacking of late after being handed back-to-back losses to Salernitana in Serie A and Feyenoord in the UEFA Europa League.
Lazio ended 3rd in its Europa League group, thus dropping to the Europa Conference League. Roma mustered 2nd place in UEL Group C, and they are to feature in the Round of 32 against a 3rd-placed team from the Champions League.
(Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Lazio are one of three teams yet to lose away from home and they have conceded a solitary goal on their travels this term. Overall, the Bianconcelesti have leaked eight goals in Serie A; only Juventus have let in fewer (7).
The atmosphere at this fixture is always instrumental and in recent years the ‘home’ team has generally got the better of the opposition, with only one victory for the ‘away’ side in the last 11 editions of Derby Della Capitale (in Serie A). Last season Lazio won 3-2 before Roma returned the favour in the reverse fixture, 3-0.
Lazio striker Ciro Immobile has six goals to his name in Serie A, two shy of top scorer Victor Osimhen, while teammate Mattia Zaccagni has found the net five times. Sergej Milinković-Savić has produced seven assists this term, the most in the Italian top flight until the point. Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel has kept the most clean sheets in the league, with seven in 12 outings.
Two of Lazio’s most important players, Immobile and Milinković-Savić are both ruled out of the Rome derby – the former with a injury and the latter due to suspension after accumulating five yellow cards. For Roma, the trio of Georginio Wijnaldum, Paulo Dybala, and Leonardo Spinazzola remain sidelined.
Roma are 2.05 to win the Derby Della Capitale; Lazio 3.50 to win; 3.50 for a draw. (Bet365)
Derby d’Italia, 20H45 CET
Our second instalment sees Juventus welcome Inter Milan to Turin. The hosts have endured an underwhelming first stint of this campaign which finds them in 8th place and 13 points off the pace set by Napoli. Juve and Inter are separated by 2 points on the Serie A table and an elusive win could keep the Bianconeri in the mix for a top-four place.
Juve dropped 14 points in the first 12 games of the season, with four draws and two losses. Of the six teams they have dropped points to, three are currently sitting in the bottom seven places in Serie A. Inter won all of their last four league matches.
It must be said Juventus’ form at home has been impressive and aside from league leaders Napoli, only the Bianconeri are unbeaten at home. Juve have conceded 3 goals at home (the joint-fewest in Serie A) and seven overall, the lowest in the Italian top flight.
This is to be a 14th meeting between Max Allegri and Simone Inzaghi, their 10th in the Italian top flight. Inzaghi has won two and lost six of his nine clashes with Allegri, although the Inter manager got the better of his countryman and opposite number in each of their last three battles, including the finals of both the Coppa Italia and Supercopa Italiana last season.
In Europe, the Nerazzurri did well to outwit Barcelona over 180 minutes and progress to the last-16 of the Champions League. Juve had an horrendous European campaign, winning one of six group games, and subsequently dropping to Europa League football after ending 3rd in their UCL group, behind Benfica and Paris St-Germain.
Opposing strikers Lautaro Martínez and Dusan Vlahović have scored six goals apiece in Serie A. Nicolo Barella has been directly involved in nine goals this term, with five goals and four assists.
Juve are without a handful of players as Vlahović, Paul Pogba, Leandro Paredes, and Weston McKennie are all out injured. Moise Kean is unavailable and likewise for Mattia De Sciglio. Romelu Lukaku and Marcelo Brozovic are ruled out for Inter.
Juventus are 2.90 to win the Derby D’Italia; Inter Milan 2.50 to win; 3.25 for a draw. Lautaro Martinez is 7.00 to score the first goal or 3.40 to score anytime. (Bet365)
