Lazio Face Viktoria Plzen In Europa League As Derby Della Capitale Remains A Distant Dream

AS Roma and Lazio find themselves on separate sides of the Europa League bracket, meaning a Derby della Capitale can only take place if both teams reach the final.  

Lazio have been drawn against Viktoria Plzen in the round of 16, with the first leg scheduled for March 6 and the return match on March 13. Meanwhile, Roma will face Athletic Club in their own round of 16 tie, remaining on the opposite side of the draw from their city rivals.  

This setup means that a potential all-Roman showdown would not occur until the Europa League final, a scenario that could benefit both Italian football and Serie A’s standing in UEFA's association coefficient rankings.  

The association coefficient determines which leagues receive additional spots in next season’s Champions League. Last year, Italy finished in the top two alongside Germany, securing five Champions League places for the 2024-25 season.  

However, this season, Italy currently ranks third behind England and Spain, putting its position at risk. The situation worsened after Juventus, Milan, and Atalanta were eliminated from the Champions League last week, leaving only four Italian teams—Inter, Roma, Lazio, and Fiorentina—remaining in European competitions.