Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has expressed confidence that Lazio is mentally and physically ready for their crucial Derby della Capitale showdown against AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, on Sunday.
Lazio, managed by Marco Baroni, come into the high-stakes clash looking to recover from a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.
That loss was a setback for the Rome-based club, and the derby against Roma presents an opportunity to restore belief and momentum.
Dele-Bashiru, who joined Lazio on loan from Turkish side Hatayspor last summer, believes the team has the character to deliver a strong performance and secure a vital win against Claudio Ranieri’s men.
The 24-year-old has been a steady presence in midfield, featuring in 18 Serie A games this season, scoring three goals and providing one assist in just over 800 minutes of action.
Speaking in Lazio’s official matchday programme, via LazioNews24, the Nigerian midfielder emphasized the emotional weight of the fixture and the squad’s determination to respond to recent disappointments.
“A lot, there is no need to underline how important the derby is for us and our fans,” said Dele-Bashiru. “We will face it with a lot of confidence to try to get the victory. In Europe, as in the first leg against the Giallorossi, we did not offer our best performance, I do not want to find excuses.”
“Certainly, going back to Thursday, the environmental conditions did not help us, but now we must only think about the derby.”
On a personal note, Dele-Bashiru added: “I am very happy to have already scored five goals this season.
“Obviously, if I were to score in the derby too, it would be the most important one. Regardless of my presence on the pitch, the fundamental thing is always the team’s result.”
With European qualification hopes still alive, Lazio will be banking on home advantage, squad depth, and derby passion to overcome their city rivals.
