Lazio and Roma will face off in the first Rome Derby of the season in the Serie A matchday 18 on Friday. The kick-off is at 20:45 CET.

Preview

Lazio are set to host their arch-rivals Roma on the back of a three-game unbeaten streak in the Italian top-flight as Simone Inzaghi's side have won two and drew once since the start of 2021, including last week's 2-0 victory at Parma. As things stand now, the Biancocelesti sit in eighth in the league table with 28 points.

Paulo Fonseca's men, for their part, have also started the new year with wins against Crotone and Sampdoria and a battling 2-2 draw with Inter Milan over the weekend. The Giallorossi have been in a great form this season, having lost just three out of their 17 Serie A games so far. Roma are 3rd in the standings, six points above Lazio ahead of their head-to-head meeting.

Lazio's captain Senad Lulic won't play on Friday due to fitness issue while Mohamed Fares and Thomas Strakosha also remain on the sidelines.

Roma winger Pedro is the biggest injury doubt in Fonseca's squad. Antonio Mirante, in turn, will definetly miss the encounter through a muscle problem.

Prediction

Even though Lazio appear to have found their best form lately, we'd say that Roma are slight favourites to win the Rome Derby for the first time since 2018, considering Giallorossi's overal form this term so far. What's obvious is that this encounter is very likely to be an entertaining one, even without fans in the stands.

Tip

Roma to win or draw at both teams to score at 2.15 with 1XBET.