Even without suspended AS Roma captain Francesco Totti, there will be no shortage of intensity for Sunday's Rome derby with surprise Serie A leader Lazio.
Lazio enters the weekend with a four-point lead over five-time defending champion Inter Milan, while Roma appears on the rebound after a difficult start to the season and will be eager to put a dent in its city rival's title hopes.
"The Rome derby is all about emotions," said Zdenek Zeman, the Czech coach who led both Lazio and Roma in the 1990s. "You feel it most of all off the pitch and players often bring that nervousness with them onto the field.
"Roma has everything to lose and needs a game that can turn its season around, so one point won't be enough, whereas Lazio has the advantage of playing calmly."
Also this weekend, Inter will attempt to bounce back from its loss to Tottenham against Brescia, AC Milan will look to build on Filippo Inzaghi's goals against Real Madrid when it visits Bari, and Juventus hosts newly promoted Cesena.
Totti picked up a red card for his clash with Lecce's Ruben Olivera last weekend.
"I'll watch it from home, because I suffer too much at the stadium. But I'll cheer just as hard," said the 34-year-old Totti, who has been playing for his hometown club since his teens.
Roma beat Lecce 2-0 and held off FC Basel 3-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday but still trails Lazio by 10 points in the Italian league.
It's a complete turnaround from last season, when Roma challenged Inter for the title down to the final day while Lazio teetered on the edge of the relegation zone for months.
"Last year we lost by missing a penalty so we want payback this time," Lazio coach Edy Reja said. "The buildup to the game with Roma is always special. It's an emotional event and there are a lot of expectations, and not just in the changing room. You can sense the derby approaching all over the city."
Lazio will rely on the inspiration of Brazilian playmaker Hernanes, the solid form of winger Stefano Mauri and the scoring touch of Sergio Floccari. Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who was instrumental in leading Uruguay to the World Cup semifinals, appears set to play despite a muscle injury.
Roma defender Nicolas Burdisso is questionable with an ankle injury and without Totti, the attack will be led by Marco Borriello and Mirko Vucinic, who scored twice when the Giallorossi beat Lazio 2-1 in April.
Roma also won the opening derby last season, while Lazio hasn't come out on top since a 4-2 victory in April 2009.
As usual, there will be worries about violence and security will be tight at the 80,000-seat Stadio Olimpico. The decision to play the game in the afternoon was made with security in mind, and officials have even decided to cancel the flight of an eagle - Lazio's mascot - before kickoff.
Also this weekend, it's: Bologna vs. Lecce; Fiorentina vs. Chievo Verona; Napoli vs. Parma; Sampdoria vs. Catania; Udinese vs. Cagliari; and Palermo vs. Genoa.
The 37-year-old Inzaghi came off the bench and scored twice to give Milan a 2-1 lead over Madrid on Wednesday, although the Spanish power equalized with a strike from Pedro Leon in injury time.
Inzaghi had hardly played all season.
"It's the most beautiful night of my career and I'll never forget it, even if Real's equalizer in the end ruined it," Inzaghi said. "Commentators often forget about me. Now they're all going to jump on the wagon."
Already hard hit by injuries and suspensions this season, Fiorentina received another blow when goalkeeper Sebastien Frey tore the ACL in his right knee in training. He requires surgery and could miss the rest of the season, handing the starting job to Polish backup Artur Boruc.
