Gianluca Mancini’s lone goal helps Roma take bragging rights from the Derby della Capitale.
The Derby della Capitale was a game of equal chances for most of the first half with Roma and Lazio testing each other to capitalise on a mistake. Ciro Immobile had a few chances to put his team ahead in the clash but he failed to do so. Zeki Celik had an opportunity to break the deadlock in the 35th minute by heading the ball from close range but his attempt was too high.
Roma left it late in the first half but they did manage to draw first blood through Gianluca Mancini. The 27-year-old headed home from a Paulo Dybala corner to score the Giallorossi’s first goal after four goalless derbies.
Stephan El Shaarawy had a chance within ten minutes of resumption to double the home team’s lead from the left side of the box following an incisive pass by Romelu Lukaku but the Italian hit the post.
Valentin Castellanos and Mateo Guendouzi had chances to equalise in the second half as Lazio increased their momentum. The Argentine had an incredible chance to score from close range with his right-footed shot but Mile Svilar saved with his impeccable reflex to keep his side in the lead.
The Biancocelesti could not find the correct stride in their attacks as they ended the match with a disastrous free-kick set-up.
With this win, Roma find themselves only two points away from 4th-placed Bologna in the league standings as Daniele De Rossi aims for Champions League qualification for next season.
Roma (4-3-3): Svilar (6,5); Celik (6), Llorente(6,5), Mancini (7,5), Angelino (7); Cristante (6), Paredes (6), Pellegrini (7); Dybala (7,5), Lukaku (6), El Shaarawy (7).
Substitutes: Spinazzola (6), Smalling (5), Abraham (6), Bove (6)
Lazio (3-4-2-1): Mandas (6); Casale (6,5), Romagnoli (5), Gila (6,5); Marusic (6), Guendouzi (6), Vecino (6,5), Anderson (7); Isaksen (6,5), Kamada (6,5); Immobile (5,5).
Substitutes: Patric (5), Pedro (5), Castellanos (6), Luis Alberto (5,5), Luca Pellegrini (5,5).
Trambak Bhattacherjee | GIFN
