The Warm-up: Derby stakes rise as both sides aim high

Serie A football returns with a bang on Saturday, as Roma host Lazio in the first Derby della Capitale of the season.

With both sides riding high after the first phase of the Serie A campaign, ambitions and expectations around the city are beginning to grow. Bragging rights are on the line once again, but is there even more at stake this time around?

The pre-match reading

• Eusebio Di Francesco's pre-match press conference in full
• El Shaarawy believes fans can make the difference
• S quad list: Nainggolan included but will be matchday decision
• INTERACTIVE: Re-watch classic derby goals how you want
• Vote: Which derby choreography was the best?

The form guide

Both sides come into this game with nine wins from their opening 11 league matches, with the Giallorossi having lost the other two (to Inter Milan and Napoli) and Lazio having lost one and drawn one (defeat against Napoli, draw with SPAL).

Last time out the Giallorossi beat Fiorentina 4-2 in Florence, extending their winning streak to five games in all competitions.

Lazio, meanwhile, finished the first 'phase' of the campaign with a washout - their scheduled home game against Udinese postponed due to torrential rain.

Prior to that they beat Nice at home to secure their place in the knockout rounds of the Europa League, extending their own winning streak to nine games in all competitions. Their last, and so far only, defeat of the season came at home to Napoli in September.

Team news

The home side will be without Patrik Schick, who is continuing his own specialised recovery programme as he looks to return to full fitness. Rick Karsdorp is also sidelined, but full-back Emerson Palmieri is included in the squad after playing an hour for the Primavera on Friday afternoon.

The big question mark surrounds midfielder Radja Nainggolan, who suffered a groin problem while on international duty with Belgium. Nainggolan has been rehabilitating back in Rome all week but coach Eusebio Di Francesco said his selection would be a last-minute decision.

Lazio's last-minute headache surrounds Ciro Immobile, with the striker complaining of a slight thigh problem during the week. The striker has been in and out of training for Simeone Inzaghi, but is expected to play at the Olimpico.

Felipe Anderson, Wallace and Felipe Caicedo are also likely to miss out.

Past six meetings

2016-17

Serie A

Roma 1-3 Lazio
Lazio 0-2 Roma

Coppa Italia

Lazio 2-3 Roma
Roma 0-2 Lazio

2015-16

Serie A

Lazio 1-4 Roma
Roma 2-0 Lazio

The view from both sides

Eusebio Di Francesco: "I’ll be really excited because the derby isn’t like any other match for me and that’ll be especially true now I’m the coach. It will be tough because players have the good fortune of being able to show their hunger and desire to play the match on the pitch, while it’s a bit different for coaches because you depend on others more.

"It’s going to be my toughest derby ever, but I’m really pleased to be involved. It’ll be a great game – both teams are in a very good position both in terms of their form and their league standing."

Simone Inzaghi: “We’ve both started the season excellently. My hope is for us to stay on these levels for a long time. Before the game, however, you can only do your talking on the pitch.

“We’ll face this game openly. They have a great team with a great coach. I’m very impressed by Di Francesco, also because he’s quickly transmitted his ideas to the team. Roma have changed their attitude towards football. Sometimes they wait for their opponents and sometimes they’re aggressive.

“I expect them to do both of these things against us. Roma suffer less now but also score less."

Opposition danger man

SERGEJ MILINKOVIC-SAVIC

Regular observers of Serie A will need little introduction to the talents of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic: one of the finest all-round midfielders in the league and, still only 22, one of the most promising talents in world football.

The Serbia international (born in Spain to a footballer father and basketball-playing mother) is robust in the tackle, quick across the pitch and has a great eye for goal, making him an intimidating opponent whenever he takes the field.

Roma's midfield - whoever it may be - will have to do a job on Milinkovic-Savic to prevent Lazio gaining the upper-hand in that important battle, especially given Simeone Inzaghi is likely to pack that area of the pitch as part of his tactical strategy.

Roma's one to watch

EDIN DZEKO

Big games require interventions from big players. Edin Dzeko may not be enjoying the same prolific goalscoring form he revelled in last season but he remains vital to the side - and as a result could be vital to Roma's hopes of winning on Saturday.

Dzeko has delivered a number of big goals already this season - against Chelsea and against AC Milan, to name just two - but it is his overall contribution that has been so influential; pressing opponents and winning the ball high up the pitch, while also feeding teammates with his vision and precise passing when the Giallorossi do have the ball.

If Dzeko can impose himself on the Lazio defence from the off, he will open up the space for the wide forwards and midfielders to apply real pressure. If he can then get himself in the box and add another goal to his Roma collection, Giallorossi fans could be set for some wild celebrations.

Possible line-ups

With the international break to reflect - and a big Champions League game coming up against Atletico Madrid - Di Francesco will have had a while to settle on his best selection for his first derby as coach.

Radja Nainggolan remains the biggest decision, with Di Francesco saying he will only name the midfielder in his team if he is at least "90%" fit.

Simone Inzaghi has got his side settled into a familiar 3-5-2 (or 3-5-1-1) shape, although the recent injury absence of Felipe Anderson (following the summer sale of Keita Balde) has forced a slight reshuffle.

Nevertheless, if Immobile is fit to start the coach is likely to know his best XI without too much debate - with Luis Alberto playing in behind the Italy international and Milinkovic-Savic and Parolo asked to burst from box-to-box.