Carpi v Roma: Three opposition players to watch

Kevin Lasagna

The young forward with the memorable last-name is one of brightest talents in the Carpi attack. After working his way from Serie D with Cerea and then Este, Lasagna became one of the most coveted players in the lower leagues of Italian football, eventually catching the eye of Carpi in the summer of 2014. With two goals and two assists, Lasagna has made an impact on recent matches - a goal against Fiorentina in a tough loss and a brace to earn a draw against Inter Milan. Expect Lasagna’s name to become more frequent in Italian football in the near future.

Cristian Zaccardo

After notable stints with Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga and Parma and Milan in Italy, the 2006 World Cup champion has become a pillar in Carpi’s defence. Earning 19 starts, coach Fabrizio Castori has given Zaccardo full trust in the backline and he’s repaid his coach’s faith by averaging almost three tackles, four clearances and three interceptions per match.

Simone Romagnoli

A former Milan primavera player, Romagnoli is a disciplined and tactful central defender. He has played 1,469 minutes this season, averaging almost three interceptions per game. Most notable of Romagnoli is his powerful clearances – he’s averaging over six per match. Measuring in at 1.93 metres, Roma will have to beat Carpi’s defense on the ground if they want to bypass Romagnoli’s aerial dominance.