Lazio midfielder Marco Parolo believes the battle for Champions League qualification will run until the final round of Serie A fixtures.

The Biancocelesti played out a 0-0 derby draw with Roma on Sunday and remain fourth in the table, level on 61 points with their city rivals in third spot.

Inter are one place and one point adrift of Lazio but will leapfrog both Rome clubs with a win over Cagliari on Tuesday.

Lazio and Roma then play on Wednesday, against Fiorentina and Genoa respectively. There are six rounds of fixtures left to play and Lazio host the Nerazzurri in the final round of games.

Parolo believes that clash will be crucial in the battle for Champions League football.

He told Mediaset: “We are still in the Champions League today, we have proved to be a real team. We played an open game, for some periods of the game it was also very beautiful.”

He added: “Our group has personality and wants to give its best until the end. The Champions League race will be decided against Inter in the last round at the Olimpico.”

Lazio are 2.63 to win at Fiorentina on Wednesday, La Viola can be backed at 2.75 and a draw is 3.30.

The Rome club qualified for Europe’s top competition in 2015 but failed to reach the tournament proper as they lost in the play-off round to Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen.

Lazio last competed in the Champions League in 2007-08, when they were eliminated after the group stages.