Lazio are top of the table, with Roma hot on their heels. Roma fans are crossing their fingers, whilst Lazio fans are on strike

A sci-fi scenario. Who would ever have thought that in October Lazio would be top of the league with 19 points and Roma second with 17? As far as fans can remember, there has never been such a dazzling start to the season for the Rome-based teams in the history of the football league. While for Roma this represents the continuation of a project begun last year under Gian Piero Gasperini—who is instilling solidity, a structured style of play and a winning mentality in the team—the real surprise is the Biancocelesti, with Rino Gattuso in his first season and an ongoing fan boycott: there are never more than 7,000–8,000 supporters at the Olimpico. Some of the most die-hard supporters, perhaps, were even hoping the team would perform poorly, in order to facilitate Claudio Lotito’s departure. But what is happening instead? Lazio are storming ahead, winning and impressing, with feats such as Sunday’s in Turin: a resounding 3–0 victory over Juve. A meme is circulating in fan chat groups: the scene where Marco Giallini/Rocco Schiavone explains to his colleagues in Aosta the difference between “’sti cazzi” and “me cojoni…”. “Lazio beat Juve 3–0 in Turin. What do you reckon? Me cojoni…!!”

However, those same chat groups are now buzzing, as some are beginning to question whether the strike will continue. Sporting director Angelo Fabiani has just issued an appeal: “Even if everyone sticks to their guns, let’s call a truce – come back to the stadium. Now is the time to support the team, which needs you…”. The appeal was immediately rejected by the fans: “There can be no truce with that chairman who keeps insulting us…”. So they’re travelling away, but not to the Olimpico. “We watch the matches and can hardly believe it. At times, this Lazio side plays better than Eriksson’s or Mancini’s teams. We’re enjoying the moment without getting our hopes up too much: we’re convinced it’ll come to an end sooner or later. In true Lazio style, we’re keeping our feet on the ground; we’re not getting carried away, we’re not puffing out our chests. We’ll see how long it lasts, but what a treat…”, says a friend, a die-hard Biancoceleste supporter. Even the more prominent supporters remain cautious. “Naturally, I’m very pleased: the team is playing with ardour, passion and determination, and all the credit goes to Gattuso and Fabiani. My view of Lotito remains the same, but if we’re still top of the table in 5–7 matches’ time, then the supporters will have to give it some thought…”, observes Franco Cordelli, theatre critic and columnist for the Corriere della Sera. The Hamlet-like dilemma plaguing the Biancocelesti supporter is: by not going to the stadium, could I be having a negative impact on the league table? Could I ruin this magical moment?

On the other side of the fence, they look – or pretend to look – only at Roma. They pay no heed to their ‘cousins’ (though in Rome, calling them that is a euphemism) and are certain the Biancocelesti will soon run out of steam. “They’ve started strongly, but let’s face it: they have a limited squad that can’t hold out for long, they’re not in European competitions and, when the other teams start getting knocked out of Europe, that’s when we’ll see how things really stand – and, last but not least, playing in an empty stadium will take its toll. So, really, we’re almost smiling…”, says a former Roma colleague who has his finger on the pulse of the fanbase. Not everyone, however, shares this view, and in any case they would never admit to their greatest fear: that Lazio might win the league. Or have a much better season than Roma. Lazio at the top of the table is like an elephant appearing in Piazza del Popolo. “I finally see a manager (Gasperini, ed.) who is a man of discipline and hard work, who understands the game, and who brings a provincial feel to it – in a positive sense. Pragmatic and down-to-earth, he wants to play well and win. And he fields the players who enable us to do so. Gattuso, on the other hand, had no choice but to start strongly, because the others have European commitments. And he’s managing it,” reflects the writer Sandro Bonvissuto, a die-hard Giallorossi supporter. He adds a bitter observation: “Roma and Lazio are both incomplete teams: they have empty stands, we have empty executive offices at Trigoria. And I don’t know which is worse…”. The first derby will be Lazio v Roma on 13 December. Perhaps this year, exceptionally, the league title might be more important than winning the derby...