Having given an early two-goal head lead to their fiercest rivals in last week's Derby della Capitale, Lazio's hopes of beating Roma and closing the gap to Italy's top three were in tatters before half time of a typically fraught contest.

The two Eternal City sides had produced very different results during the latter half of 2024 - with Lazio leading Roma in both the Serie A and Europa League standings - but the Giallorossi's fast start ultimately defeated Marco Baroni's men.

A dismal day for the Biancocelesti was capped by the stoppage-time dismissal of star striker Taty Castellanos, who saw red amid a series of scuffles, so they will be intent on making a fresh start this weekend.

After a prior run of five league wins at Stadio Olimpico, Lazio have taken just one point from their last two home matches - in addition to none as 'visitors' in the derby - so they have slipped out of the Scudetto race and into the scrap for a top-four finish.

Having played at least one game more than most of their fellow contenders, the capital club are now just ahead of Juventus, Fiorentina, Bologna and AC Milan, making a home victory over Serie A newcomers all but essential.

History will certainly be on their side, as Lazio have won six of eight previous top-flight meetings with Como on Roman soil, averaging 2.3 goals per game in the process.

Como will need no reminding of their hosts' potential, as the Lombardy side suffered a humbling 5-1 defeat in this season's reverse fixture, which was played at the end of October.

With a few more months of experience under their belt, last term's Serie B runners-up come into Friday's clash having recently improved their chances of staying afloat in the Italian top flight, losing only one of their last five matches.

Goals from Real Madrid youth product Nico Paz and local hero Patrick Cutrone conquered Lecce in the Lariani's last outing, as Cesc Fabregas and co moved up to 16th place in the standings.

Como could now win consecutive matches for just the second time since gaining promotion - the first came back in September, against Atalanta BC and Hellas Verona - although they have not been blessed with a kind fixture list to start 2025.

Having won their first Serie A match of the year only three times in 13 previous attempts, the Biancoblu will travel south to take on Lazio before hosting regional rivals Milan early next week.

Marco Baroni's post-derby woes were not just related to the scoreline, as several Lazio players have been ruled out of facing Como by either injury or suspension.

Taty Castellanos is suspended for his red card against Roma, while Mario Gila and captain Mattia Zaccagni must both serve one-match bans for accumulated bookings - both have now reached five in Serie A this season.

Patric (ankle) and Matias Vecino (thigh) are sidelined by injury, though forward pair Tijjani Noslin and Pedro should both be fit enough for at least a place on the bench.

With others absent, Boulaye Dia will hope to step up and make an impact. The Senegal striker was directly involved in eight goals from his first 13 games for Lazio across all competitions, but in the last nine he has neither scored nor set up a single strike.

Ending his own drought, Como's Patrick Cutrone has played a part in three goals in his last three appearances - as many goal involvements as throughout the previous 13.

He will again vie with Andrea Belotti to lead the Lariani's front line, with support coming from Gabriel Strefezza, Alieu Fadera and rising star Nico Paz.

Cesc Fabregas will be without midfield duo Maximo Perrone and Sergi Roberto due to injury, while experienced centre-back Edoardo Goldaniga is suspended - new signings Jean Butez and Assane Diao are not expected to feature.

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Provedel; Lazzari, Romagnoli, Gigot, Tavares; Rovella, Guendouzi; Tchaouna, Dele-Bashiru, Isaksen; Dia

Como possible starting lineup:

Reina; Van der Brempt, Dossena, Kempf, Moreno; Da Cunha, Engelhardt; Strefezza, Paz, Fadera; Cutrone