Five Key Battles to Watch in Lazio vs Roma: Castellanos & Mancini Could Get Nasty | OneFootball

While the Derby della Capitale is arguably one of the most heated fixtures in Europe, this edition can be particularly fiery, as neither Lazio nor Roma can afford a defeat at this stage of the season.

Although they’ve shown some promising signs in the first two weeks of the season, the Giallorossi are yet to fully function like a proper Gian Piero Gasperini side, while the Biancocelesti fans are still wondering whether the returning Maurizio Sarri will ever be able to re-instil his tactical identity while missing the required personnel.

Therefore, there’s a good chance this contest could be decided by player duels rather than playing out as a tactical chess battle. So let’s take a closer look at five battles between Lazio and Roma stars that could shape the outcome of this relatively early Derby, at least based on the probable lineups provided by Sky Sport Italia.

Adam Marusic vs Stephan El-Shaarawy

This will be an interesting showdown between two true veterans and long-time serving players who don’t always receive the recognition they deserve. Adam Marusic will be looking to shut down the Italo-Egyptian’s threat on the left wing, while the latter will be keen to pounce on any space he can find to serve Evan Ferguson.

Nuno Tavares vs Matias Soulé

While several compelling battles will take place on the flanks, this one could be the most compelling. In the absence of Paulo Dybala, his young compatriot Matias Soulé could be given the freedom to roam, but we can expect him to often drift to his favourite position on the right flank before cutting to the middle.

The Argentine’s mere presence could be enough to pin Nuno Tavares at the back, as Sarri wouldn’t want Soulé to take advantage of any pockets of spaces created by the Portuguese’s attacking forays.

Matteo Guendouzi vs Manu Koné

Matteo Guendouzi does enjoy a Derby brawl or two, but with Dybala out of action, he’ll have to find himself a new dance partner. Nevertheless, the former Arsenal star will likely have his hands full with his compatriot Manu Koné who shares several of his traits. This should be a fun, action-packed battle between two energetic box-to-box midfielders.

Mattia Zaccagni vs Zeki Celik

After expressing his admiration for the Lazio captain, Francesco Totti said that he expects Roma to keep Mattia Zaccagni at bay. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if Zeki Celik (who could get the nod ahead of Mario Hermoso) would be able to nullify the Italian’s threat. He is expected to be assisted by Devyne Rensch and Bryan Cristante in this daunting task.

Taty Castellanos vs Gianluca Mancini

Gianluca Mancini is an expert at getting under his opponent’s skin, while Taty Castellanos hardly shies away from a brawl, not even in a pre-season friendly against an unsung club. Therefore, this will hardly be a peaceful affair, and the match official will be expected to intervene on a few occasions.