Derby week: Three key individual battles to watch out for

Lazio and Roma will go head-to-head in a mouth-watering Derby della Capitale on Sunday – with kick-off at the Stadio Olimpico at 18:00 local time.

Never have the two sides met so early in a campaign before, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to a game that rarely seems to follow the script anyway.

The two sides split the spoils in last season’s games – with Lazio winning the most recent meeting. Roma will be looking to get revenge for that, and get their first win of the fledgling campaign.

Here are three key battles to watch out for…

Paulo Fonseca v Simeone Inzaghi

New manager Paulo Fonseca takes to the dugout for what will be his first derby between Roma and Lazio. The 46-year-old, who swapped Shakhtar Donetsk for the Stadio Olimpico in the summer, will experience his first Derby della Capitale, having only just got his first taste of Italian football in the 3-3 home draw against Genoa last weekend.

Plenty of players – most recently Chris Smalling - have all been brought over the course of the summer, as Fonseca starts to fine tune his squad. He may still be adjusting to the Italian game, but form tends to goes out of the window when derbies come into play.

His opposite number, Simeone Inzaghi, arrives for the match in almost the opposite situation - the 43-year-old is set to take charge of what will be his eighth league meeting between both sides. He knows what the derby means and, having only made minor revisions to his squad over the summer, his players will know what they are expected to do.

That has led many to proclaim Lazio the favourites for the game – not that Fonseca is particularly worried about that.

"Lazio being favourites, it's just words - what matters happens on the pitch,” he said at his pre-match press conference.

“They are a strong side, with good players and an established style. But what counts is how you approach the game, how you surprise opponents and counter their strengths."

Lorenzo Pellegrini v Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

Given the fluid nature of both sides’ midfields, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Sergej Milinković-Savić may or may not come into head-to-head confrontation during the tie at the Stadio Olimpico. Instead, this battle may be fought on the basis of how much influence either man can exert on his team’s performance from his respective position.

Milinkovic-Savic, 24, will be a constant threat throughout. Being one of the most consistent midfielders in Serie A last season, he was first for aerial duels won (105), total shots (72) and shots on target (21) – and finished second for goals scored (5) and third for key passes (45).

The Serbian international averaged seven passes into final third, won four aerial duels, averaged 2.6 long balls, 2.5 total shots as well as providing 1.5 key passes and 0.3 goals/assists.

Pellegrini, on the other hand, is one of the brightest young attacking midfielders in Europe. The 23-year-old has been an increasingly regular part of the side since re-joining the club from Sassuolo two years ago, and has also been capped ten times by Italy's senior side.

Rome-born and bred, he knows what this game means.

"I will never get tired of saying it: playing here, for a boy born in Rome, is something that gives me both great pride and a feeling of responsibility”, he said.

"When you go out there on the pitch it is like you are also representing your entire family."

Milinkovic-Savic has the physicality to boss matches high up the pitch, but Pellegrini will offer Roma a deeper-lying presence, capable of controlling the game with his passing and subtle movements.

The player who establishes greater command of the game could have a vital impact on how matters pan out.

Edin Dzeko v Ciro Immobile

The striker battle speaks for itself, really. Both players were instrumental for their teams last season, with Dzeko netting 14 goals in all competitions, and Immobile finishing up on 19. Both have scored in this fixture before, and both will be wanting the spotlight in the derby.

Both are also off the mark already this season – Dzeko scoring against Genoa, while Immobile netted a brace in the 3-0 win over Sampdoria. Clear-cut chances can often be at a premium in the derby – both strikers will know they can make a potentially decisive intervention for their respective sides if they are the one to take full advantage of any openings they get.