Two big events in Rome over the next week: Francesco Totti, eternal skipper of one the Eternal City’s major clubs, will celebrate his 37th birthday on Friday.

The happiness of the occasion is bound to be shaped by the result of today’s big match. Hangovers from a defeat against Lazio last a long time for anybody attached to Roma.

Totti also hopes that events on the field during the derby are more newsworthy than those off it.

The Rome derby has become as much associated with its convulsive passions inside the Stadio Olimpico as its capacity for violence outside.

The city’s authorities have warned that any repeat of the incidents that marred the Copa Italia final between the two clubs in May, which included hostilities with police, could mean the next derby will be staged at a venue outside the Italian capital.

In Totti’s long career of derbies, dating back over 17 years, he had to call for one to be abandoned 10 years ago because of the threat of disturbance.

Lazio played their opening match of this season with a section of the stadium closed because of racist chanting during their Supercoppa match against Juventus, and players from both Rome clubs issued a joint-statement urging spectators specifically “to show Rome is not a racist city.”

Totti, meanwhile, extended his contract with the club, which should keep him on the playing staff until he is three months shy of his 40th birthday.

He intends to still be wearing the Roma number 10 shirt until then, ambitiously targeting the all-time Serie A goalscoring record, Silvio Piola’s 274 career strikes.

He needs another 46 to match it. Should he reduce that by one today, Totti would move into double figures for career goals against Roma’s most intense local rivals.

A win would maintain Roma’s perfect start to the season, while a defeat would move Lazio level with them on points.

sports@thenational.ae