The season is made up of sliding doors, moments that can mark the mood, performance and work of a coach or a team.
Lazio-Roma, for Maurizio Sarri and Josè Mourinho, is exactly this: a first derby for both - bitter rivals in the Premier League - which already tastes like a litmus test.
On the one hand the Biancocelesti and the effort in 'digesting' the new ideas of the Tuscan coach, on the other the Giallorossi and the euphoria brought to the city with the arrival of the Special One.
And if for Lazio the start of the season was not as exciting as that of their cousins, even in the Roma home the approach to the derby is not all roses. To ruin Mourinho's honeymoon was the referee Antonio Rapuano and the red card drawn in the final minutes of the match against Udinese against Lorenzo Pellegrini. An expulsion defined as "ridiculous" by the Portuguese, but which still deprives the team of its captain, as well as the best man with 6 goals and 2 assists in eight games. The time for recriminations, however, is not there and for this reason the Special One is already studying the solutions to replace the blue midfielder. The most likely is the one that brings Mkhitaryan to the center of the trocar with Zaniolo and El Shaarawy on either side. For the rest we go towards the en bloc confirmation ofeleven seen on Thursday with Vina who also worked separately today. The two coaches who will find themselves in front after the discussion of 2018 in the Premier League when Mourinho coached United and Sarri Chelsea will ignite the audience. Sparks born from 2-2 in the final minutes of the Blues and from the provocative exultation of Marco Ianni (collaborator of the Tuscan) towards Josè. The current Lazio coach was forced to intervene to calm the spirits, even if the weather dulls and recently Sarri himself admitted: "Mourinho is nice to me". The biancoceleste technician has other things to peel, than not to think about the old rusts.The two coaches who will find themselves in front after the discussion of 2018 in the Premier League when Mourinho coached United and Sarri Chelsea will ignite the audience. Sparks born from 2-2 in the final minutes of the Blues and from the provocative exultation of Marco Ianni (collaborator of the Tuscan) towards Josè. The current Lazio coach was forced to intervene to calm the spirits, even if the weather dulls and recently Sarri himself admitted: "Mourinho is nice to me". The biancoceleste technician has other things to peel, than not to think about the old rusts.The two coaches who will find themselves in front after the discussion of 2018 in the Premier League when Mourinho coached United and Sarri Chelsea will ignite the audience. Sparks born from 2-2 in the final minutes of the Blues and from the provocative exultation of Marco Ianni (collaborator of the Tuscan) towards Josè. The current Lazio coach was forced to intervene to calm the spirits, even if the weather dulls and recently Sarri himself admitted: "Mourinho is nice to me". The biancoceleste technician has other things to peel, than not to think about the old rusts.current Lazio coach was forced to intervene to calm the spirits, even if the weather dulls and recently Sarri himself admitted: "Mourinho is nice to me". The biancoceleste technician has other things to peel, than not to think about the old rusts.current Lazio coach was forced to intervene to calm the spirits, even if the weather dulls and recently Sarri himself admitted: "Mourinho is nice to me". The biancoceleste technician has other things to peel, than not to think about the old rusts.
There is a project "under construction" and a team that calls itself "tired". Yesterday captain Ciro Immobile was quite clear in the analysis after the second consecutive draw in the league following the knockouts with Milan and Galatasaray: "We need to work harder and not be afraid to play. It seems that we take the field fearful despite having the defensive phase has improved in these last matches ", said the Neapolitan bomber, adding that" unconsciously self-esteem is dropping: after Milan we have lost enthusiasm and this must never happen. The derby must be played with a knife between the teeth ".
To reverse the trend that sees the Biancocelesti without victories for almost a month (the last at home with Spezia, 6-1, on 28 August), Sarri will focus on the starting block.
Milinkovic-Savic, Leiva and Pedro are back, while in defense Lazzari will regain possession of the right lane in place of Marusic.
It will be a nearly sold out derby.
Out of about 32,000 seats, to date there are over 27,000 tickets (all 9,000 tickets reserved for Roma fans have been sold out) with the aim of reaching 30,000 spectators.
Before the match, the British band Dire Straits Legacy will perform.
Referee Guide.