Preview - Roma vs Lazio 29 September 18

[Harry85]

Match Day 7
Roma vs Lazio
Saturday, September 30th, 2018
22:00pm (GMT+8 Timing)
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico

Roma:   
Last five matches form: D L D L W
Average goals per match: 1.83
Average goals against per match: 1.50
Top Scorer: Javier Pastore & Stephan El Shaarawy (2)

Lazio:
Last five matches form: L W W W W
Average goals per match: 1.50
Average goals against per match: 1.00
Top Scorer: Ciro Immobile (3)

We have a number of cracking contests in store on Match Day 7 in Serie A, but in terms of raw passion and tension, the action at the Stadio Olimpico will likely prove tough to beat. It's time for the first Rome derby of the season as perennial rivals Roma and Lazio lock horns once more.

It certainly hasn't been the greatest of starts to the season for Roma, with Eusebio Di Francesco's men having just two wins from their opening six games. Whilst they did look good at times when thumping Frosinone 4-0 in their most recent home game, they will likely find this a significantly tougher assignment.

Facing last season's winners and runners up in their first two fixtures was never likely to prove easy for Lazio and so it proved as they lost to both Juventus and Napoli. They have been perfect since though in seeing off Frosinone, Empoli, Genoa and Udinese.

Roma held the edge in this fixture last season, winning this clash 2-1 and drawing 0-0 in Lazio's home game here.

Roma will be without Diego Perotti for this one. Jordan Lukaku and Stefan Radu miss out for Lazio.

This looks an evenly poised tie. Roma always look a team likely to score, but by the same token look far from impervious at the back at present. Lazio's only defeat in their last nine away Serie A games has come at champions Juventus and we fancy they can get at least a point in an entertaining encounter.





Prediction: Roma 2 - 2 Lazio

[Harry85]

Half time: 1 - 0
Full time: 3 - 1
Shots:  13 - 14
Shots on target: 9 - 6
Corner Kicks: 8 - 9
Possession: 47% - 53%

The bookings count matched the final score line in this one, with Roma receiving three yellow cards to Lazio's two. Referee Gianluca Rocchi taking the names of Robin Olsen, Edin Dzeko and Lorenzo Pellegrini for the Wolves and Milan Badelj for Lazio.

An entertaining Rome derby and a big win for Roma. Lazio may have appeared to be in slightly the better form headed into this game, but as ever form can often go out of the window in a derby game and Roma more than matched them here, running out clear and probably deserved winners in the end.

Roma were looking extremely dangerous on the counter attack from the off here as they repeatedly hit Lazio at pace; Edin Dzeko and Javier Pastore both forcing Thomas Strakosha into decent saves.

When the opening goal did come in the 45th minute, it was an absolute calamity for the Lazio defence. The keeper coming out to deal with a ball in the area but ending up in no mans land as the defenders around him failed to clear the ball in alarming style, leaving Lorenzo Pellegrini to back heel the ball into the empty net.

Having been gifted a goal at the end of the first half, Roma returned the favour in the 67th minute. Federico Fazio dithering on the ball deep inside his own half and being robbed by Ciro Immobile, who then raced through on goal and finished into the bottom left from the right-hand side of the area.

Roma were back in front just four minutes later. Alexander Kolarov lining up a free kick just outside the area and keeping his effort low to fire into the right-hand side of the goal.

Then in the 86th minute Fazio atoned for his earlier error when getting on the end of a Lorenzo Pellegrini free kick from the right-hand side to plant a header into the top left corner. 3-1 final score.

Roma move up to sixth with this win and are now just one position below Lazio who lie in fifth spot.