‘It’s a crucial game’ in Rome derby as both AS Roma and Lazio intend to scrap for second in Serie A

'Nearly everyone is saying Lazio are favourites,' says AS Roma manager Rudi Garcia, but 'it just motivates us even more' to secure the second automatic Champions League spot over their rivals.

AS Roma's Radja Nainggolan and Lazio's Marco Parolo shown battling for the ball during the first Rome derby of the Serie A season in January. Andreas Slaro / AFP / January 11, 2015

Coach Rudi Garcia has called on AS Roma to beat derby rivals Lazio on Monday and secure Serie A's second automatic Champions League spot with a game to spare.

Roma’s title push fizzled out last month following a remarkable run of draws and now Garcia’s men sit just one point ahead of Stefano Pioli’s impressive Lazio side ahead of Monday’s derby at the Stadio Olimpico.

Lazio have been the most successful team in Italy’s top flight this second half of the season after champions Juventus, but Garcia – who could welcome Brazilian defender Maicon back to the fold – remains defiant.

“Nearly everyone is saying Lazio are favourites to win the game, that they’re the better team, that they play the best football in Italy, but we’ll set out to win it all the same,” the Frenchman told media on Sunday.

“People saying Lazio have already won it just motivates us even more. We want to make sure tomorrow is the last game that really matters for us this season.”

Lazio host Roma five days after spurning their only chance of a trophy this season, losing the Coppa Italia (Italian Cup) final 2-1 to Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico last Wednesday.

While a draw would give Lazio the point required to keep fourth-placed Napoli at bay ahead of next week’s final round of games, both Roma and Lazio will be keen to avoid finishing third to avoid a potentially costly play-off.

Napoli finished third in Serie A last year but their bid to join the Champions League group stages came undone after a 4-2 aggregate defeat to Athletic Bilbao.

It set a pessimistic tone for the rest of Napoli’s season and now coach Rafa Benitez and top striker Gonzalo Higuain are reported to be on their way out of the club as they face another season out of Europe’s premier club competition.

Understandably, Lazio coach Pioli hinted his side won’t be settling for a share of the spoils on Monday.

“It’s a crucial game for us,” he told reporters. “We’ve done everything we can to get to this stage ... and we’ll be 100 per cent focused on giving everything in this game.

“The lads are all in fine condition, motivated and feeling refreshed after last week’s Cup final. Thankfully, we play tomorrow and we welcome the extra day’s rest.”

A Lazio win would see Pioli’s men take a two-point lead over Roma to set up a dramatic finale to the season. On the final day, next Sunday, Roma host Palermo while Lazio have the arguably tougher task away to Napoli.

It is a scenario Garcia does not want to contemplate, the Frenchman saying: “We have the opportunity to win this one and not have to go to the last match of the season.

“We’ll do everything possible to get the three points and hopefully everyone will get behind us and propel us on to the win. We want second place, it’s as simple as that.”

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