Lazio's Nuno Tavares injury clouds Rome derby chances

Lazio's hopes for the Rome derby are under pressure as Nuno Tavares and Josip Sutalo remain doubtful.

The club returned to training without the two internationals, leaving several question marks over the injury situation. Initial medical tests have identified muscle problems for both players, who were injured during the recent match against Napoli. Reportedly, Il Corriere Dello Sport the Portuguese defender could be sidelined for three to four weeks, while the Croatian defender, who was forced to leave the field on Sunday with the support of his teammates, is awaiting further tests to confirm his recovery timeline. Lazio aim to have both players back for the derby against Roma scheduled for 13 December.

Lazio's injury blow sidelines Tavares and Sutalo for three weeks

The club has not disclosed the exact nature of the muscle injuries, saying the picture will become clearer as rehabilitation progresses. Previous cases like Marusic and Rovella required about two months to return. Tavares was forced to withdraw from the Portugal match and has since returned to Rome.