Roma face tough derby test

It is anyone's guess who will win tonight's derby at the Olympic Stadium between Roma and Lazio.

Such clashes between teams from the same city are fascinating as it is always very difficult to predict a winner. In fact, it is not the first time that the underdogs go on to astound the odds and claim victory.

The derby in Rome is no exception and for many this could well turn out to be the game of the season given the rivalry that exists between the two antagonists.

The importance of beating direct rivals in derbies goes beyond the three points at stake... there is also the element of establishing supremacy in the neighbourhood... at least until the next derby.

In the corresponding first-round fixture, Roma edged Lazio 3-2 in a pulsating encounter, so typical of these two teams.

Roma and Lazio had contrasting fortunes this season, with Roma being the only club in Serie A still in contention for a treble - scudetto, Coppa Italia and Champions League.

Lazio, on their count, had a very poor campaign in Europe. They were ousted from the group stages of the Champions League by Real Madrid, the side Roma knocked out in the last 16 following back-to-back victories for a 4-2 aggregate.

Even in the Serie A, Lazio were a far cry from the team that finished third last season. Delio Rossi's side have a staggering 16 points less than they had after 28 games in 2006/07.

Injury to key players and participation in the Champions League, despite a restricted squad, were the main motives behind Lazio's poor showing.

Incidentally, Lazio and Roma could clash again on May 24 in the Coppa Italia final.

In the semi-finals, Lazio face Inter whereas holders Roma clash against Catania.

But before that, Luciano Spalletti's team will have to keep up with Inter's pace in the title race besides seeking revenge over Manchester United in the Champions League quarter-final.

It will not be easy for Roma with Inter out of the reckoning in Europe and now focusing solely on the league and Coppa Italia.

In the Serie A, Lazio, nine points above the relegation trapdoor, only have pride to play for. By stark contrast, Roma need all three points to stay within sight of Inter, who travel to Genoa tonight.

Inter do not boast a good record at the Luigi Ferraris stadium.

Their most recent of 10 wins in 40 visits to Genoa dates back to May 3, 1992 (2-1). Inter only have a draw and two defeats to show from their last three away match against Genoa.

Certainly, tonight's fixtures will shed more light on this season's title contest.

A morale-boosting win in the derby will be a psychological boost for Roma ahead of the final phase of the season.

In 1999, Sven-Goran Eriksson's Lazio suffered a 3-1 defeat to Roma, a result that severely dented their morale. Lazio ended up losing the title to Milan on the very last day of the season.

Serie A statistics

0 hat-tricks were registered in the past weekend. Seven players, namely, Iaquinta (Juventus), Bellucci (Sampdoria), Missiroli (Reggina), Masiero (Genoa), Padoin (Atalanta), Giuly and Vucinic (both Roma), came on as substitutes and scored. Inter defender Marco Materazzi committed the only own goal of the day. For the first time this season, there were no red-carded players. In the match between Cagliari and Torino, the visitors could have scored an equaliser had David Di Michele converted Torino's fifth penalty of the term. This was Torino's first miss from the spot. Two minutes after Marco Storari's timely save off Di Michele, Cagliari doubled their lead thanks to a Robert Acquafresca goal from a penalty.

1st ever draw between Livorno and Parma in four meetings at the Armando Picchi stadium as Parma came from behind to put an end to their negative run of two straight defeats. Parma coach Hector Cuper, formerly of Inter, was making his debut of fire. In another basement clash, third-from-bottom Reggina, who were coming from a three-match winless streak (a draw and two defeats), were in a class of their own as they annihilated Siena 4-0 to interrupt the visitors' run of five positive results (three wins and two draws). Prior to last weekend's comprehensive win, Reggina's only victory against Siena in four home meetings dated back to October 19, 2003 (2-1).

3rd straight win for Roma as the giallorossi made a late second-half comeback to beat Milan at home for the first time since January 15, 2006 (1-0). This was Milan's first league upset since going down to Atalanta on January 23 (1-2). Roma are still six points adrift of long-time leaders Inter, who went on to beat Palermo for the 15th time in 21 home meetings. All the Sicilians have to show from their visits to the Giuseppe Meazza stadium are six draws only.

6 wins for Napoli in 62 visits to Turin. On Sunday, Napoli were well on their way to come out of Turin unbeaten for the first time in just over a decade as they were holding third-placed Juventus 0-0 until the final two minutes of normal time. Then, a Vincenzo Iaquinta well-taken goal sealed Juve's first home win over Napoli since February 11, 2001 (3-0) to further consolidate their position in the table. Napoli's most recent win in Turin dates back to November 20, 1988 (5-3). Cagliari kept their slim chances of avoiding relegation alive thanks to a resounding home win over Torino. This was Torino's first defeat after an eight-match positive run (three wins and five draws). Cagliari had last beaten Torino at home on November 19, 1995 (1-0). Torino's latest of four wins in 25 visits to the Sant'Elia stadium came on September 29, 1991 (1-0).

9 wins for Sampdoria in 11 home meetings with unfancied Catania as on Sunday the blucerchiati beat the Sicilians 3-1. The only two occasions when Catania left Genoa unbeaten were on January 2, 1955 (1-1) and December 27, 1964 (1-0). In a pulsating match, Udinese and Lazio shared the spoils for the eighth time in 29 meetings at the Friuli Stadium. Lazio are undefeated in their last four outings (two wins and two draws).

31 years have passed since Genoa last conquered Fiorentina's Artemio Franchi Stadium. On Sunday, the Viola ran out comfortable 3-1 winners to confirm Genoa's truly dire record in Florence, where they have only won three times in 37 visits. The last positive result attained by Genoa in Tuscany dates back to September 6, 1992 (1-1). This win coupled with Milan's defeat in Rome, meant that Fiorentina have now opened a four-point lead over fifth-placed Milan. Atalanta had to wait a decade to return to winning ways at home against Empoli. But they did it in style as they went on to win 4-1 to leave Empoli without any wins in five visits to Bergamo.

33 goals were scored on the 28th day of the Serie A season: 25 coming from the hosts and the remaining eight from the visitors. There were eight home wins. Away teams could only manage two draws. Total number of goals scored so far amount to 714. Three players grabbed a brace each - Franco Brienza (Reggina), Simone Padoin (Atalanta) and Robert Acquafresca (Cagliari) - to help their respective sides to comprehensive home victories over Siena, Empoli and Torino respectively. Marco Borriello (Genoa) and David Trezeguet (Juventus) still lead the goalscorers' list with 16 goals each. The two strikers are closely followed by Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter) and Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina), both on the 15-goal mark.