Roma prepare for Fiorentina; Vanoli recovers two key players

The Derby della Capitale between AS Roma and SS Lazio will kick off at 12:30 on Sunday, according to an announcement by Lega Serie A president Ezio Simonelli. The fixture had faced scheduling uncertainty due to a potential clash with the Italian Open tennis finals at the Foro Italico, which raised the possibility of a Monday postponement. However, organizers have found a compromise by moving the match to an early afternoon slot. Simonelli explained the reasoning behind the decision, stating: "We will try to hold the derby in a way that there are no overlaps with the final of the Foro Italico. At the same time, you know that there are restrictions from public security, so by process of elimination we cannot hold it in the evening because it is forbidden, nor in the afternoon because it would clash with the finals of the Internationals. The only available time slot is 12:30 and I believe that will be the one we choose." He added that the derby deserves to be played on Sunday and requires simultaneous kick-off, as it falls on the penultimate matchday of the season. The early start represents a balance between Roma and Lazio's scheduling needs and public safety requirements during a busy sporting weekend in Rome.

The Inter-Roma match is not currently included in the investigation sparked by the referees controversy affecting Italian football. The match does not appear destined to be added to the inquiry at this stage. Italian football has been gripped by a wider scandal involving officiating decisions, but the specific fixture between Inter and Roma sits outside the scope of the current investigation. Details remain unclear regarding which matches are covered and the exact criteria used to determine inclusion in the probe.

Ezio Maria Simonelli, President of the Italian Football League (Lega Serie A), has announced the expected fixture date for the Derby della Capitale between AS Roma and SS Lazio. Speaking at the presentation of the 'Road to Zero' project, Simonelli outlined the scheduling constraints that led to the proposed time slot. The match is expected to take place on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. Simonelli explained the reasoning behind the decision, noting that evening fixtures are prohibited due to public security restrictions, while afternoon scheduling would clash with the final of the Internazionali tennis tournament (the Rome Masters). The 12:30 p.m. slot emerged as the only viable option. He stated: "We will try to play the derby in a way that there are no overlaps with the Foro Italico final. At the same time, you know there are restrictions from public security, so by process of elimination we cannot play it in the evening because it is forbidden, nor in the afternoon because it would clash with the Internazionali final. The only time remaining available is 12:30 p.m. and I believe that is what we will choose." Simonelli added that the derby merits a Sunday fixture and that simultaneous kick-off times will be required as it falls on the penultimate matchday of the season. Official confirmation of the date is pending.