Now that the group phase has finalized, Italian clubs can turn their focus from the Champions League (back until February) to Serie A this weekend and mainly to Sunday's Roman derby. Roma plays host to Rome based Lazio in a classic duel of Italian style football.
AS Roma became Italy's third and last qualifier to the second round of the Champions League (knock out stage) and enters the game against Lazio on a rolling six game winning streak. However, Captain Francesco Totti may miss out because of an ankle injury.
Bet on AS Roma v. Lazio at Bodog.com
Roma advanced to the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time by beating Spanish power house Valencia 1-0 Tuesday. The goal was scored by Christian Panucci who raced in unmarked to head the ball into an unguarded net from close range after Phillipe Mexes nodded Taddei's free kick back across the goal floating it providentially in Panucci's path for the one to nil qualifying win.
Serie A leader Inter Milan and AC Milan had already moved on to the knock out. Inter leads the Italian league with 36 points, followed by Roma with 32 and Palermo with 28. Inter takes a 12 match unbeaten streak into its game at Empoli which looks much like a 13 match, unless I jinx it. Palermo hosts fourth place Livorno on Saturday.
Bet on AS Roma v. Lazio at PinnacleSports
This years' picture for the Roman derby is very much like the one celebrated last February. Roma won 2-0 a week after Francesco Totti fractured his fibula and strained ligaments in his left ankle. The win was Roma's 11th straight, which set an Italian league record.
Brazilian winger Rodrigo Taddei scored the first goal in February's game. "That goal is the past. I've got to think about my next goal," Taddei said, adding that Roma will be ready whether Totti plays or not. "I hope he recuperates, but if he doesn't we are going to have to help whoever takes his place."
Totti's latest injury is to his right ankle, not the one he injured in February. Totti hurried back from surgery and took part in Italy's World Cup victory in July. AS Roma physician Mario Brozzi thinks he'll make it back for the Lazio game too.
"Knowing Francesco, he would even play with only one ankle," Brozzi said. "It's tough to prevent him from playing." Brozzi added that a final decision on Totti's status would be made Saturday or Sunday.
Lazio has several options in attack, with Tommaso Rocchi, Goran Pandev and Stephen Makinwa all having scored this season. Totti said he was most worried about Lazio goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi.
"When he's on, nothing gets by him," Totti said.
Lazio has climbed up the standings to seventh place, helped in part by the reduction of its scandal penalty from 11 points to three by an arbitration board in October.
Bet on AS Roma v. Lazio at Bodog.com
As for the fans, Lazio's ultras have announced they won't display any derogatory banners for their rivals out of appreciation for the respect that their counterparts showed for four jailed Lazio ultra leaders.
This heated rivalry is tainted, in a good way, with some respect and Italian unison due to qualifications to the Champions League. Italian's pull very closely together when it comes to any team from the boot playing against anyone outside it, still it's a match and its game on.
At Bodog.com I see my favorite risk in soccer brewing here. Roma is rolling nice but Totti's absence will be felt. I like the rested Lazio at +210, home team and a risk on the draw at +190. Only a win by AS Roma can keep you from making some change.
