Lazio Midfielder Considers Inter Clash Season-Defining Fixture

Nicolo Rovella talked to the press in the build-up to Sunday’s Serie A classic between Lazio and Inter at the Stadio Olimpico. The Biancocelesti midfielder emphasized the importance of grabbing a positive result amid the club’s below-par start to the new campaign. 

Winless in four of their last five league games, Lazio come into this fixture stranded in mid-table. However, their top-four homes are still alive and kicking, with only four points between them and fourth-placed Roma. A more significant issue is a lack of form. 

Before slumping to a 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in midweek Champions League action, Lazio failed to beat bottom-half strugglers Hellas Verona despite taking a halftime lead. Last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Marc’Antonio Bentegodi left manager Maurizio Sarri fuming. 

Lazio can redeem themselves with a third consecutive home win against Serie A leaders Inter on Sunday. Rovella is aware of the size of the task at hand but believes it could be a turning point for his stuttering side.

“For us, it is a very important match. We will need attention and desire to work. The match against Inter can help us recover emotionally,” the Lazio playmaker said, as quoted by TMW. 

Rovella also admitted he comes from a family of Inter supporters, though he can’t let that affect him. 

“My first match in Serie A was against Inter. My family supports Inter, and when I started playing, it was for an academy associated with Inter.”