Fan Versus Fan: Roma - Lazio Roma and Lazio come together on Wednesday evening in one of the fiercest derbied in world football. Goal.com asked Roma fan Adrian Del Monte and Lazio fan Chris Testa to set the scene.
Fan Versus Fan: Roma - LazioGOAL: First of all, how do you feel about your side's start to the season?Adrian (Roma): We have had a somewhat inconsistent start to the season, however despite this; I am pleased with our current progress. After an amazing start to the campaign, we have struggled lately, especially in defence, prior to last weekend’s performance against Milan. If we can notch up two successive victories against quality opposition, pencil us in as a serious chance for the Scudetto.
Chris (Lazio): We’ve had a poor start to the year, especially considering what was expected of us. We are starting to see the effects of our failed transfer campaign and the injury crisis that we have been hit with.
GOAL: What were the goals at the start? Do they need to be modified now?Adrian: Prior to the season, our goals were simply to seriously challenge for the Scudetto, improve on our Champions League performance of last season, and most certainly finish in the top four of the Serie A to qualify for next seasons Champions League competition. At this stage, I do not believe that these goals need to be modified, as we are still certainly in a position to achieve all of these goals.
Chris: The goals for the season were simply to qualify for Europe again and challenge for the fourth CL place. Qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League would be a bonus. It may be unrealistic to qualify for the CL again but we should still aim for a top six finish. Despite the shocking form, we are not too far behind on points.
GOAL: How do you rate your opponents' start to the season?Adrian: They haven’t had the best start domestically; however they have performed respectably in the Champions League thus far. I feel that Lazio are only one win away from recapturing somethe form that saw them qualify for the Champions League last season, and that win may come around this week.
Chris: As hard as it is to admit, Roma will be title contenders and have made a solid start to the season. They have proven their ability to win against the big sides and they have maintained consistency for the first nine rounds.
GOAL: Who do you think has the edge heading into Sunday's game and why?Adrian: Roma certainly have the edge coming into this week’s game. Although our form hasn’t been the greatest in recent times, neither has Lazio’s, and with two solid victories against Sporting Lisbon and AC Milan in our past two matches, the signs are looking good. Nonetheless this game will not be a walk in the park, as it is always difficult to pick a winner in a Roman derby.
Chris: Unfortunately, Roma certainly have the edge on form and on paper. They have been Italy’s top attack this season while we at times have looked shaky at the back. However, we have the wood over them in recent derbies and the form guide is eerily similar to the great day last season when we beat them 3-0.
GOAL: Tactically, where do you think the key to this game will lie?Adrian: As I foresee this game as a defensive one, I definitely believe that the key to this game will lie in the defence. Whichever defence can close down its opponents attacking players, and thus reduce their number of goal scoring options, should emerge victorious. Both sides possess solid defenses, with Juan, Mexes, Cicinho, Panucci and Tonetto, just to name a few for Roma, whilst for Lazio, there is Zauri, Cribari, Stendardo and Scaloni. If these defensive players manage to get the better of their attacking opponents, their side may very well attain all three points in this contest.
Chris: The key will certainly be our ability to shut down Roma’s attacking players. This job will be made easier with the absence of Totti. Should we achieve this, I believe that the likes of Pandev and Rocchi will score against a Roma defence which has let them down on occasions this season.
GOAL: Which opposition player do you consider to be the greatest threat to your team in this clash?Adrian: Goran Pandev. He has been in such good form this season, and along with Rocchi, they form a formidable attacking duo. With three goals in the league and a brace against Real Madrid in the Champions League, he is in goal scoring form, and will be a danger for our defence come match time. However, as said in my tactical comments above, if our defence can close down Pandev and Rocchi, there will be no Lazio player who will be of any serious threat to us.
Chris: I would say Totti, but in his absence De Rossi will be the key to controlling the midfield. Vucinic is also hitting form and could be the danger man up front.
GOAL: Would you want him in your team?Adrian: I suppose Pandev would be a good inclusion to our squad, however he’s no superstar. We already have a host of other players who are similar in style to he, so although he’s a great player, my answer would be no.
Chris: God, no. As good as they are these players are, they are die-hard Riomanisti. We have the greatest rivalry in the world and I wouldn’t want a Riomanista to wear the Biancazzurro shirt even if he was the world’s best.
GOAL: What are your team’s strengths at the moment?Adrian: Our attacking strength. With twenty goals in the first nine games of the Italian season, we possess the most potent of attacks in the competition. And even better than this, against Milan on the weekend, we proved that even without our talismanic captain Francesco Totti, we still have the ability to defeat strong opposition. Totti has been our most consistent performer this season, with seven goals in the first eight matches of the season, and generally when Totti plays well, Roma play well. And when he plays poorly, Roma do likewise; however this may be a thing of the past, as talents are beginning to emerge through the likes of Vucinic and Esposito, who have both impressed this season.
Chris: Probably Goran Pandev. It is disappointing that our main strength is an individual player but his ability to create and score is vital, particularly with Mauri injured. When he and Rocchi rediscover their partnership of last season, the goals will start to flow.
GOAL: And weaknesses?Adrian: Our weakness at the moment is without doubt our defence. After such an excellent start to the season, not conceding in our first five competitive matches, we have conceded 12 goals in our past 5 league games, prior to the Milan match. With new signings Juan and Cicinho joining household names such as Mexes, Tonetto and Panucci in the Roma defence this season, it’s difficult to see how so many goals were conceded. However, after a brilliant defensive performance against Milan on the weekend, and amazing individual performances by Juan and Cicinho in particular, this may no longer be a weakness for us.
Chris: Defensive errors. With people being forced to play out of position and having a veteran ‘keeper and an inexperienced one you are bound to have problems. When players return from injury and the backline gets settled, the problem should go away.
GOAL: Who from your team should we keep a particular eye on here?Adrian: Totti is the obvious choice, as he has been so damaging already this year. However, if he fails to play, young gun Daniele De Rossi is certainly a player to keep an eye or two on. He is an extremely talented young player, who is very creative and does have the ability to score from long range. Beware of De Rossi…
Chris: Goran Pandev up front. If he produces his brilliance the world could witness another famous Laziale derby win. If he plays like he did against Real, he will certainly cause some damage.
GOAL: Who is your all time number one hate figure, or object of amusement, from their lot?Adrian: Paolo Di Canio. He doesn’t deserve to be spoken about at all, so I will just say that he is my and every other Roma fans number one hate figure from Lazio.
Chris: Their whole club is a hate figure and object of amusement but if I had to narrow it down, I’d say Totti. How could you go past the captain who has been a Riomanista all his life? There is also the Curva Sud. Everyone knows that the Laziali are much better fans than them.
GOAL: What would you envy about them, if anything?Adrian: There isn’t much to envy about Lazio. Their league form has been poor and we are currently doing better than them in the Champions League, so there’s not much.
Chris: I don’t envy anything about them. I feel sorry for people born into Riomanisti families.
GOAL: What was the best bit of business ever done between the two clubs?Adrian: If these two clubs ever did business, perhaps another world war would erupt. I cannot recall any form of notable business being done between the two sides, however if there was, it would have been a gutsy move by the player.
Chris: Can’t remember any transfers but two of our greats Siniša Mihajlović and Angelo Peruzzi are both former Roma players. They certainly had more success in the better half of Rome playing for Lazio than they did at Roma.
GOAL: What's your fondest memory of past clashes against them?Adrian: In all honesty our clashes in recent seasons have failed to impress, from a Roma perspective anyway. However my fondest memory came in the 2005/06 season in the eighth match day, when we drew 1-1. ‘Il Capitano’ scored the first goal of the match just before half time, and his celebration was simply amazing. He ran onto the athletics track of the Olimpico, so he was in good view for his wife who was in the stands. The Roma players gathered around him as he lay on the ground with his legs spread open. A ball then emerged from under his shirt, to celebrate their birth of their first child together.
Chris: Definitely the 3-0 win in 2006. It was unexpected and we really let them know that day who the real Roman football club is. The 3-1 in 2005 with Di Canio scoring was a fantastic day too. Paolo lives for these derbies and to see him taunting the Curva Sud was brilliant.
GOAL: What do you think the score of this match will be, and how will it affect your week?Adrian: Roma are back I believe, and thus this match will be a comfortable victory for us. I imagine the final score line will be 2-0 in our favour, and although it will be extremely tough and competitive, as these clashes always are, Roma will be way too strong on the day. Defeating Lazio is always a pleasure, and whether they’re first or last, the feeling is always the same – simply amazing!
Chris: I’m not sure what the score will be as derbies are unpredictable but I’m hoping for a 2-1 win. Anything more will be a bonus. The result will decide my mood for the next month at least. A win would leave me happy for a long time. Plenty of celebrating in the coming days, I hope.
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S.S. LAZIO1900 VS A.S. ROMA, რომაული დერბი
