Shomurodov and Svilar warning : ‘Rome Derby is a 6-pointer’

epa12014647 Roma’s Eldor Shomurodov jubilates with his teammates after scoring the 1-1 equalizer during the Italian Serie A soccer match AS Roma vs Juventus FC at Olimpico stadium in Rome, Italy, 06 April 2025. EPA-EFE/ANGELO CARCONI

Eldor Shomurodov admits next week’s Derby della Capitale between Roma and Lazio is ‘a six-pointer,’ while Mile Svilar reveals his thoughts on the 1-1 draw with Juventus.

It was a hard-fought encounter at the Stadio Olimpico, as Juve dominated the first half, taking the lead with the Manuel Locatelli volley from the edge of the area.

Shomurodov came off the bench at half-time and took just three minutes to make an impact, bundling in from close range after Michele Di Gregorio parried the Evan N’Dicka header.

“The coach told me I had to stay close to Artem Dovbyk. We started the second half well, equalising straight away, it’s a pity we didn’t get another goal, but a point against Juve is not bad,” Shomurodov told DAZN.

“I am happy to be named Player of the Match, but if I had scored two goals, it would’ve been better.”

The Derby della Capitale is next week and becomes a potentially decisive moment in the race for European qualification and the Champions League spots too.

“It will be a six-pointer, so we need to prepare well, do what we’ve done so far and make our fans happy,” concluded Shomurodov.

Svilar and Shomurodov will take Roma point

The race for Europe is tighter than ever now, as Lazio are now two points clear of Roma, while Bologna could potentially leapfrog Atalanta into third if they win against Napoli on Monday evening.

If Bologna lose, there will be six teams in a six-point radius from third to eighth.

“It helps our confidence not to lose today, we had hoped for more, but we take the point,” goalkeeper Svilar told DAZN.

“We still have seven games to go, the derby is the most special game of the year for our fans, it will be 50-50, but we can’t wait to get on the pitch.”

Both sides also rattled the woodwork with Nico Gonzalez and Stephan El Shaarawy, but this result ends the run of seven consecutive Roma victories in Serie A.

“I honestly though the Nico Gonzalez header was going in when I went to make the save, so I’m happy.”

Claudio Ranieri has revitalised Roma since taking over in October 2024 from Ivan Juric, but the coach has rejected all attempts to convince him to postpone his retirement at the end of the season.

“We asked him to stay, but we have to respect his decision,” added Svilar.