The stage is set for a blockbuster Derby della Capitale, and Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini is ready for battle. With tensions running high and the Champions League race tighter than ever, Sunday’s clash against Lazio promises to be a defining moment in the season.
Gasperini opened his pre-match press conference with a confident update on Paulo Dybala’s future. The Argentine star, whose contract situation has been a hot topic, appears close to a resolution. “It is positive that both sides want it,” Gasperini said. “The solution will be found.” For Roma fans, that’s music to their ears—keeping Dybala in the fold is crucial as the club pushes for a top-four finish.
Currently sitting in fourth place, Roma are level on points with Milan and locked in a fierce battle with Juventus, Napoli, and Como. Every point matters, and a win in this derby would be a massive step toward securing Champions League football. But Gasperini knows Lazio won’t make it easy. “Lazio is an excellent team, and their ambition now is to ruin our run,” he warned. “But we have stronger ambitions. The derby is always difficult to play for everyone.”
The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico is expected to be electric, even with Lazio’s organized supporter groups absent from the away end. Gasperini, however, refused to let that distract his squad. “We focus on what we can control,” he said, keeping his players locked in on the task ahead.
One major boost for Roma has been the presence of Ryan Friedkin, the club’s co-owner, who has been in Rome this week. Gasperini highlighted the positive impact of the Friedkin family’s involvement. “Their presence is fundamental,” he said. “When they are here, everything works better. There is less noise and more focus.”
For Roma fans, this derby is about more than just bragging rights—it’s about momentum, ambition, and proving they belong among Italy’s elite. With Gasperini at the helm and Dybala’s future looking bright, the Giallorossi are ready to take on their city rivals and keep their Champions League dream alive.