Roma takes derby bragging rights over Lazio
Gianluca Mancini headed home the winning goal in the Derby della Capitale as Roma defeated rival Lazio 1-0 at Stadio Olimpico to stretch its unbeaten run to seven Serie A matches.
In a typically tight affair, Mancini’s 42nd-minute header proved the difference between the two sides as Daniele De Rossi won his first Rome derby as a coach.
Daichi Kamada did have the ball in the net for Lazio but the Japanese international was in an offside position from Matteo Guendouzi’s defence-splitting pass.
While Lazio failed to bounce back from the Coppa Italia semi-final defeat to Juventus, Roma consolidated its grip on fifth in Serie A.
De Rossi’s side started the game on the front foot, winning a corner inside the first minute, with Leandro Paredes’s drive an early warning for Lazio.
Lazio captain Ciro Immobile had an early sight of goal for the Biancocelesti when they won the ball high up the pitch and Immobile struck a right footed effort into the side netting.
At the other end, a Roma free-kick landed at an unmarked Diego Llorente, who saw two half-volleys blocked, the second of which bounced just wide of a post.
Lorenzo Pellegrini, back in the Roma team after suspension, then tested goalkeeper Christos Mandas with a long-range effort, and the Giallorossi spurned another opportunity when Zeki Celik headed over from close range.
Roma's goal did arrive before half-time, though, with Mancini powering a header beyond the despairing reach of Christos Mandas.
After the break, Pellegrini narrowly curled wide a free kick before Romelu Lukaku surged forward and played in Stephan El Shaarawy, who smashed the woodwork.
Lukaku almost tapped in from Bryan Cristante’s centre, before Kamada saw what he thought was an equaliser disallowed for offside.
Tensions heated up between both sets of players with an altercation between Guendouzi and Paulo Dybala sparking the fire, but Roma ultimately kept its discipline to hold off late Lazio pressure and further its hopes of UEFA Champions League qualification.
