In his first ever Derby della Capitale conflict with Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio, former Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperrini led Roma to a slim victory. The one purpose of the sport was the work of Lorenzo Pellegrini within the thirty eighth minute, whereas Lazio noticed two gamers – Reda Belahyane and Matteo Guendouzi – despatched off on the very finish.
Groups
Sarri was unable to name upon Matias Vecino, Samuel Gigot, and Manuel Lazzari.
The Lazio coach fielded a 4-3-3 with Ivan Provedel in purpose. Defensively, they had been marshaled by Adam Marusic at proper again, Mario Gila and Alessio Romagnoli as centre-backs, and Nuno Tavares on the left. The midfield trio was Matteo Guendouzi, Nicolo Rovella, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, whereas up entrance they pushed with Pedro, Boulaye Dia, and Mattia Zaccagni.
In the meantime, Gasperini was with out key forwards Paulo Dybala and Leon Bailey, midfielder Edoardo Bove, in addition to defenders Wesley and Mario Hermoso.
Mile Svilar stood between the posts. The again three noticed Zeki Celik, Gianluca Mancini, and Evan N’Dicka kind the road. Devyne Rensch and Angelino supplied with to a midfield consisting of Kouadio Kone and Bryan Cristante. Up forward, Lorenzo Pellegrini supported the attacking partnership of Evan Ferguson and Matias Soule.
Match recap
The Derby della Capitale was tightly contested, tense, and finally determined by one second of distinction in high quality. For a lot of the primary half, each Lazio and Roma probed however discovered few weaknesses within the opposition’s defensive group. Roma, depleted by absences, had been compact and cautious, whereas Lazio sought to dominate possession and stretch the flanks, significantly utilizing Zaccagni and Pedro.
The sport’s decisive second got here within the thirty eighth minute when Roma capitalized on a turnover, a ball misplaced clumsily Tavares. A cross from Soule lower by midfield, discovering Pellegrini, who had drifted into the proper spot. Pellegrini completed sharply, giving Roma the lead and an emotional elevate—particularly vital given the current uncertainty round his contract and kind.
After the purpose, Lazio tried to reply. They pushed ahead in waves, in search of openings, however Roma’s defensive form held up properly. Svilar made a number of vital saves, and the line of defense labored arduous to restrict clear probabilities.
The second half noticed Lazio intensify stress. Substitutions tried to interrupt Roma’s resistance, however probabilities continued to be few and much between. As Lazio dedicated extra our bodies ahead, Roma defended deeper, managing the sport, seeking to keep away from being breached.
Late on, the strain rose: Substitute Reda Belahyane of Lazio was despatched off for a studs-up problem across the 86th minute, rising the issue for the hosts. Roma confirmed self-discipline within the closing phases, preserving the slim lead regardless of Lazio edging possession and hoping for a late equalizer.
The ultimate whistle confirmed a 1-0 win for Roma, however even then issues received a bit worse for the Biancocelesti as Guendouzi continued protesting with referee Simone Sozza, who finally flashed out the pink card once more.
Roma’s self-discipline received the midfield struggle
For all of Lazio’s possession, it was Roma’s group that quietly stole the present. Gasperini drilled his facet right into a compact block that denied Sarri’s midfield any oxygen. Pellegrini and Soule pressed with intelligence, whereas Kone and Cristante had been relentless in shutting down the half-spaces.
Lazio discovered themselves circulating the ball sideways, however the central channels had been sealed off. It was the form of tactical maturity that wins derbies — much less glamorous, however ruthlessly efficient.
Lazio’s left wing ran right into a wall
Sarri positioned his bets on Zaccagni and Nuno Tavares to crack Roma open, and for temporary flashes it appeared promising. Zaccagni’s curling effort, which Svilar acrobatically pushed away, was Lazio’s brightest spark. However repeatedly Roma’s full-backs anticipated the overlaps, forcing Lazio into predictable large play that lacked punch.
With Boulaye Dia left stranded and Castellanos providing little extra when launched, Lazio’s left-sided emphasis resulted in frustration relatively than fireworks.
One press, one purpose, one derby determined
In matches this finely balanced, one second can outline all the things. Roma didn’t want waves of assaults — they only wanted one set off. Rensch hunted Tavares excessive and compelled a mistake in overconfidence from the ex-Arsenal man, Soule launched Pellegrini, and the captain did the remaining.
It was a transfer straight from Gasperini’s playbook: focused urgent resulting in surgical precision in transition. From that time, Roma retreated right into a deeper shell, absorbed Lazio’s stress, and dared their rivals to interrupt them down. They by no means did. Pragmatism triumphed, and Roma walked away with bragging rights.
Wanting forward
It’s by no means simple to think about a crew that had been out of the title race for a protracted, very long time, coming again into it to mount a critical problem to established groups like Napoli, Juventus and Inter, however the truth is, Roma have received three and misplaced one Serie A match because the begin of the season, and sitting in fourth place, they share the tally with second-placed Napoli and AC Milan in third. Napoli can, nevertheless, transfer forward of Juventus in the event that they beat Pisa on Monday night.
In the meantime, Lazio have accomplished precisely the alternative, profitable simply as soon as and dropping thrice. The result’s that they sit in 14th place with simply three factors.
Sarri’s crew may have an opportunity to bounce again once they journey to face Genoa within the subsequent spherical, and Roma will attempt to proceed their vivid begin to the marketing campaign at house in opposition to Verona. However first, the Giallorossi begin their Europa League journey with a visit to France, the place they may play in opposition to Good on Wednesday.
