🇮🇹 Two giants heading in different directions for latest Rome derby | OneFootball

Beyond the usual bragging rights of the Eternal City, a Coppa Italia semi-final berth is also on offer to the victor of Wednesday’s latest Derby della Capitale.

Lazio are the designated home side as they ‘welcome’ Roma to the Stadio Olimpico for a duel between two sides who appear to be heading in different directions.

A single point separates the sides in Serie A ahead of their cup quarter-final but it is the Aquile who are slowly getting back to their best after a difficult November.

They’ve lost just one of their last six (and that came against leaders Inter), while winning four, including their last three on the bounce, while their hated rivals have toiled.

By contrast, Roma have just one win in their last five league games and following the draw with Atalanta on Sunday, coach José Mourinho invoked a silenzio stampa – media blackout – on players afterwards.

At the end of that game, the Portuguese tactician was one again shown a red card, something that has been a frequent occurrence since his return to Italy.

Admittedly, his team’s performance deserved three points and were it not for a sub=par Romelu Lukaku showing and Marco Carnesecchi’s heroics, they would have gotten it, so it isn’t all doom and gloom for the Lupi ahead of the latest Derby della Capitale.

It is a fixture which has belonged to the men in blue of late though, who are undefeated in their last three (winning two) without conceding.

The league positions and inconsistent and at times infuriating form from both clubs this season (neither aided by ongoing injury issues) means the build-up to their 182nd competitive meeting has been a little more muted than usual.

Not that it makes this any less captivating. No matter what, it always is when these sides face off.

Arguably the most famous fixture they ever contested came in the Coppa Italia when they faced off in the 2013 final for the only time.

The words ‘Senad 71’ are enough to invoke either a ripple of joy or shiver of fear through a fan depending on which side of the divide it is mentioned to: Lazio fans forever paying tribute to the man who got the only goal of the game that night and the minute he did so.

Although the stakes aren’t as high this time around, it may offer Lazio the chance to plunge their rivals into more misery, even if it isn’t quite the same depth.

Mourinho asked to be judged on where his side are in January and although their home form would easily make them a Champions League contender, their displays on the road have been costly and there is growing uncertainty about his position.

A new contract has not been discussed and although he has publicly expressed his desire to stay and remains popular with fans, ownership may view things differently if their domestic form can’t be put right.

But there would be no better marker to lay down than delivering an overdue derby triumph and sending out a signal as to their intentions for 2024.

Lazio hold the aces but this fixture is as unpredictable as it comes.

On paper, the data shows there is little between them, but this must be decided on the night, adding an extra layer of intrigue.

As always, all roads lead to Rome.