Gasperini chases second derby win as Roma prepare for Lazio return
Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will look to secure back-to-back victories over Lazio in the Derby della Capitale after Roma won the first encounter 1–0 thanks to a Lorenzo Pellegrini goal eight months earlier. The return fixture date has not yet been confirmed. Gasperini's last experience of winning both derbies in a single season came in 2009, when managing Genoa against Sampdoria, securing victories of 0–1 and 3–1 in successive matches. Since then, he has not replicated that achievement. During his time at Inter Milan, Gasperini played only one derby match and lost it in a Supercoppa final against AC Milan. The upcoming week is described as decisive both on and off the pitch for Roma. Qualification for the Champions League remains mathematically possible, though the club's fate is not entirely in their own hands. Roma would require slip-ups from both AC Milan and Juventus to secure European football. Gasperini's exuberant celebrations following recent matches have resonated strongly with supporters, strengthening the relationship between the coach and the fanbase since his arrival.
