Roma vs Lazio - Injury-hit Roma hope to bounce back in Eternal City derby

Posted Saturday, November 07, 2015 by PA

Roma coach Rudi Garcia will be unable to field his strongest side when the Giallosrossi take on Lazio in Sunday's Eternal City derby at the Stadio Olimpico.

Defender Maicon and midfielders Alessandro Florenzi and Daniele De Rossi suffered muscular injuries during Wednesday's 3-2 triumph over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.

To complicate matters in Roma's midfield, captain Francesco Totti and Seydou Keita are unavailable with thigh injuries and Miralem Pjanic has to serve a one-match suspension.

Pjanic's absence is a significant blow for Roma with the Bosnia international having enjoyed a strong start to the campaign.

The 25-year-old has scored five goals and set up five more in 10 Serie A appearances to help Roma score a league best 25 goals in the domestic competition.

Pjanic also found the back of the net for a second straight game in the Champions League by striking the winner from the penalty spot against Leverkusen in midweek.

Wednesday's victory was Roma's first in Europe this season and lifted them to second place in Group E with two games remaining.

"We should have killed the game off earlier but in the end we got the three points that we needed, that are crucial for us," Pjanic said on his club's official website.

"We need to continue on this path because we want to reach the last 16.

"It's always very important from a mental standpoint to win ahead of the derby and we hope the team can follow this result with victory on Sunday."

Roma went into the midweek encounter after a 1-0 loss at Inter Milan, a result that ended a five-match winning run in Serie A.

It also left the club a point adrift of league leaders Fiorentina, and Inter, with both sides level on 24 points.

Lazio also head into the contest on the back of a midweek triumph after they won 2-0 at Rosenborg in the Europa League.

Thursday's win, courtesy of two goals from Serbian striker Filip Djordjevic, kept the Biancoceleste unbeaten in the competition and put them on the verge of qualification for the Round of 32.

"This victory really charges up for the derby," Djordjevic said to Gazzetta dello Sport. "We are going for a win on Sunday."

Lazio have lost their last two league games, including a 3-1 defeat to AC Milan last weekend.

That setback marked the first time that Lazio had dropped points at home.

"It wasn't easy to recover after two straight league defeats," Djordjevic said. "But the win at Rosenborg gives us confidence."

Lazio, who are seventh in the standings, five points adrift of Roma, have clinched just four points away from home this season in Serie A.

Djordjevic is confident his side can earn their first away win at Roma.

"We haven't done well on the road so far but we hope that Thursday's win allows us to change that trend," he said.

Lazio coach Stefano Pioli rested some players on Thursday in view of this weekend's top game in Rome but could hand Djordjevic a second consecutive start against Roma.

The visitors are without defender Stefan De Vrij, who is out with a knee injury.

Lazio last won at Roma in the league in May 2013.