Fans set to bury the hatchet for Rome derby By Alberto Cagliano

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dpa German Press Agency
Published: Thursday December 7, 2006

By Alberto Cagliano, Milan- An unusual non-belligerence pact between the fans of Roma and Lazio has set the scene one for Sunday's Rome derby at the Stadio Olimpico. It is hoped the pact will mean no insulting chants or violent clashes will mar a high-profile fixture that has seen its fair share of trouble over the years.

The deal comes after Lazio's die-hard supporters said they appreciated the solidarity shown by their opponents for a group of Lazio hooligans who have recently been arrested.

Although debatable and apparently also based on common far-right political roots, the pact was welcomed with relief by regular fans, including Rome mayor Walter Veltroni.

On the pitch, meanwhile, Roma have concerns over Roma captain Francesco Totti, who missed the midweek victory over Valencia that secured progress in the Champions League due to an ankle injury.

"I will try, but if it was not a challenge against Lazio, I would not play Sunday," Totti was quoted as saying.

The playmaker has shown impressive form so far this seaons and is the Serie A's joint top scorer alongside Messina's Christian Rigano with nine goals, all this despite playing with a metal bolt screwed into his right leg since he suffered a major fracture last spring.

Totti's great form has helped Roma rise to second place on 32 points from 14 games, while Lazio trail on 18 due to a three-point penalty stemming from a match-fixing trial.

Rooting for Lazio are unbeaten front-runners Inter Milan, on 36 points and hoping to stretch their lead on Roma earlier Sunday as they seek their eighth straight win away to Empoli, lying comfortably in sixth on 19 points.

Third-place Sicilian side Palermo trail eight-points from the top when they welcome Livorno late Saturday and look to overcome the Tuscany hosts hoping to profit from any slip-up by Inter or Roma.

In Sunday action, fourth-place Catania on 20 points alongside Livorno, welcome Udinese.

The Udine side have 17 points alongside Atalanta, who welcome Messina, on 14 points and missing their injured top striker Rigano.

Also on 17 points lie Siena, playing away to Sampdoria in Genoa, and Torino, boasting three consecutive wins as they visit penalised giants AC Milan, who lag behind on 12 points.

Cagliari welcome fourth-from-last Parma, while Chievo Verona seem to have got themselves out of trouble through two straight wins ahead of a home tie to Fiorentina, also penalised and lying third-from- bottom.

In a weekend opener set Saturday afternoon in Reggio Calabria, penalised tail-enders Reggina welcome second-from-bottp, Ascoli.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency