AS Roma 3-1 Lazio
Rivalries in Europe do not come much bigger than that which exists between Rome and Lazio.
The Derby della Capitale and such an early season showdown in the capital had much to excite Serie A followers.
What SBOBET tipsters would not have predicted, however, is that this clash – potentially one of the Serie A 2018 highlights – would be a tenth-versus-fourth match-up.
This was certainly not how it was meant to be.
Yet Eusebio Di Francesco’s hosts have had an underwhelming start.
Before ending their bad spell in midweek, the Serie A giants had struggled to notch consecutive wins as they lost to clubs supposedly weaker than them.
Highlights of the game
In this fixture last season, Roma triumphed 2-1 thanks to goals from Diego Perotti and Radja Nainggolan.
Much has changed since then. Nainggolan left for Italian rivals Inter for €38 million and is a firm favourite, despite more being expected of him by his new boss. And with goalkeeper Alisson also departed, the biggest concern for fans remains the talent drain they went through in the summer window.
Even Perotti, still on their books, wasn’t able to play after being unable to shake off the thigh problem that kept him out of action in midweek.
Yet even with a nod to absent friends, even with Roma struggling, even with Di Francesco trying to integrate Steven Nzonzi and new recruit Javier Pastore more effectively into his side, the 149th Serie A derby (and 171st overall) had plenty to excite.
The Derby della Capitale is one of the most passionately felt matches in world football, and history suggested a feisty encounter with a red card in four of the last five meetings between the clubs and a massive 33 dismissals since the 1994-95 campaign. Incredibly, there was not one booking in the opening 45 minutes.
The passion was also felt in the stadium with the derby’s colourful atmosphere spine-tingling and Lazio’s ultras announcing before kick-off they would not display any banners or coreografia in protest at “repression and self-righteousness”.
They claim they and their club have been discriminated against by the authorities.
That is another story, and the main focus was on the field of play once the match kicked off.
Despite their poor start, Serie A 2018 betting odds were still slightly in favour of the home side (although they share the ground), perhaps in part because Lazio had won only one of the previous 11 meetings with their city rivals.
But the Aquile were hoping to keep pace with Juventus and Napoli at the top and started the brighter of the two sides.
Ciro Immobile had an early volley charged down in the opening 20 minutes, Luis Alberto saw his attempt deflected wide, Adam Marusic went close, and another Immobile volley deflected over the bar.
They were chances they would rue.
From that point, Roma came more into the game. Both sharpshooter Edin Dzeko and Pastore were denied by Thomas Strakosha.
Still, opportunities arrived at both ends: Robin Olsen denied the lively Immobile, Luiz Felipe made a last-ditch tackle to keep out Alessandro Florenzi, while Stephan El Shaarawy was not quite alert enough to Daniele De Rossi’s cross.
Roma may have felt their luck was out when Pastore limped off with a calf injury, but the enforced substitution went onto play a crucial part.
His replacement, Lorenzo Pellegrini, certainly made an instant impact with a backheel flick to earn the hosts some welcome relief and a half-time lead.
Lazio, and in particular Immobile, deserved better and got their just reward midway through the second period.
Clear-cut chances had been few and far in between when Federico Fazio was caught ball-watching, and the alert Immobile pounced to fire an angled drive into the bottom corner beyond Olsen.
Lazio may have felt the momentum was with them at this point, but it’s said that teams are at their most vulnerable after scoring.
Within four minutes, Milan Badelj committed a foul on the edge of the box, and up stepped dead-ball specialist Aleksandar Kolarov as the visiting wall collapsed.
It was a finish fit to win any game, and it also meant Kolarov becomes only the second player to score for both sides in this derby after Arne Selmosson.
He nearly got another, too, while Olsen denied Milinkovic-Savic an equaliser.
The final word went to Fazio who atoned for his earlier error by flicking home a Pellegrini free-kick.
Key statistics
Roma have now won 23 out of their 55 clashes with Lazio. Fourteen of the Giallorossi victories came at home. Lazio have won 16 of the encounters with the other 16 matches ending all square.
Roma haven’t failed to score in a ‘home’ derby against their city rivals since a 0-0 draw in April 2007.
The Giallorossi have a definite edge in league meetings, winning 54 and losing 37, with 11 wins and seven draws in their last 20 home derbies.
What’s next?
Roma now welcome FC Viktoria Pizen to the Stadio Olimpico in the Champions League before a trip to Empoli in Serie A next weekend.
Lazio travel to Germany to face German cup holders Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League before welcoming Fiorentina to the city.
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