Opinion: Why the stakes are as high as ever on Sunday

On Sunday, the ramifications of the result may not be known right away but as with any meeting between these two teams, there’s stakes are high.

Roma's eight-match winning run may have been ended by Inter before the international break but the draw against Roberto Mancini's side meant the Giallorossi are unbeaten in nine games, collecting 25 out of a possible 27 points.

But despite this stellar form, there's still a seven-point gap to second place Napoli with Fiorentina and Inter still breathing down Roma’s necks.

The margins for error couldn’t be thinner.

Should Napoli beat Udinese before the Derby della Capitale even kicks off, Roma will find themselves 10 points adrift of an automatic Champions League place and with Inter and Fiorentina, both only five points, also in action on Sunday, the Serie A table could look very different come the evening.

It's said before and it should be stressed again; Roma's incredible form under Luciano Spalletti needs to be continued and sustained for the side to remain in contention for a Champions' League place.

In other words, good job so far, but mission not accomplished yet.

On the other side of the city, Sunday’s opponents Lazio will be disappointed with their current league position, having finished third last season.

Eighteen points behind Roma, 13 away from a Europa League spot and with a goal differential of 0, the pressure will be on the home side to get a result on Sunday.

Antonio Candreva and Felipe Anderson are the only players with more than five league goals this season, and in their last nine games, they've won twice, lost twice and drawn five – having failed to score in more than half of those games.

But despite the stats and the facts and the figures, derbies are won on the pitch – not on paper. It’s a cliché but the form book really is thrown out of the window when these two teams meet with local pride at stake.

Luciano Spalletti and Stefano Pioli don’t need telling this. They know.