Welcome to the Forza Italian Football live blog, as city rivals Lazio and Roma clash at the Stadio Olimpico in Serie A for the first Derby della Capitale of the season.
The Giallorossi come into the match in better form having won all but one of their eight matches under Jose Mourinho in all competitions.
Lazio are still adjusting to coach Maurizio Sarri’s methods and go into the game four points adrift of their bitter rivals.
Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri in his post-match press conference: “Changing three or four players at (former club) Juventus led to unaffordable expenses. Here, we have adapted with some suffering, we have managed to find a compromise that has led us to win. I can work well at Lazio.
“I spent a year in the Premier League (with Chelsea) and matches like today come about quite often. In terms of emotion I put it at the very top. I didn’t think playing a derby would give this much adrenaline and satisfaction at winning it.”
Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to DAZN: “We finally had a good match. We played much better than in the previous ones. We needed a victory in the derby to move forward and face the next games. I’ve scored many important goals, but I like to score in the derby, it’s the third time and I’ll try to score more.”
Roma coach Jose Mourinho to DAZN: “Italian football and VAR did not have the capacity for a match of this level. For the second goal, the referee was wrong on the pitch, then the VAR was wrong. This is too much.
“The second yellow card for Lucas Leiva would have been significant, playing against 10 would have been important. There were two situations similar to [Lorenzo] Pellegrini (who was sent off against Udinese for an elbow). He was given a red and today there was nothing.”
1 – José Mourinho is the first AS Roma manager to lose his first Serie A Roma’s derby since Luis Enrique in 2011. Derby.#LazioRoma #SerieA pic.twitter.com/BPgWWpxRLH
— OptaPaolo ? (@OptaPaolo) September 26, 2021
Lazio take the spoils in the Derby della Capitale after a hard-fought victory, but we want to know what you thought of the Aquile in our player ratings.
Meanwhile, it was defeat for Jose Mourinho’s Giallorossi. Let us know what you made of them in our Roma player ratings.
It’s all over and Lazio have won the Derby della Capitale! A thrilling encounter didn’t disappoint but it’s the Aquile who get the victory after taking their chances. Roma were the better side after the break but struggled for real opportunities, and are just one point ahead of their rivals.
We’re into stoppage time now and Lazio are just five minutes away from a huge victory.
A deep Roma freekick is swung into the box but Smalling and Ibanez get in each other’s way and neither can get a clean connection on the header. Roma are throwing everyone forward now.
Perez shows quick feet to skip through the midfield and find fellow substitute Shomurodov on the edge of the box, and his curling effort is tipped away by Reina. At the other end, Anderson prods it through for Immobile and he hits the side netting from close range. Half the ground thought it was in.
Zaniolo is looking back to his best here and steals the ball before playing a quick one-two with Abraham and bursting into the box with a step-over. A vicious strike looks to be heading in but for a fine one-handed stop from Reina to tip it wide.
It’s given, and Veretout makes no mistake from the spot as he drills into the bottom corner. Reina guesses the right way but can’t reach it. Lazio 3-2 Roma.
The increasingly dangerous Zaniolo races into the box and sees a shot cannon off teammate Abraham, but as the ball comes back to him he goes down and a penalty is given. However, there’s a VAR check on Zaniolo.
Just as Roma were pushing for an equaliser, they are undone by a rapid Lazio counter. After soaking up pressure, Luis Alberto sends Immobile in over the top and the striker cuts back before teeing up Anderson for an easy finish. Lazio 3-1 Roma.
The Giallorossi have been the better team since the break and have had several corners already, with Ibanez and Veretout coming close. It seems to be Roma’s best way of drawing level at the moment.
Anderson wins a freekick out wide and after the delivery us flicked on, Immobile meets the ball on the volley but slices inches wide of the far post.
No changes to either side and Roma kick us off for the second half. Will it live up to thrilling opening 45 minutes?
Lazio were in dreamland in the first half of the opening period, with two goals and looking threatening with every counter. Roma grew into it though and were worth their goal late on, just moments after Immobile should have put the game beyond doubt.
Game on! A Mkhitaryan shot is deflected behind and Roma finally get a corner right, as Veretout’s delivery is flicked in from the head of Ibanez. The Giallorossi have recovered well and deserve that, as they halve the deficit just before the interval. Lazio 2-1 Roma.
That should be game over, as Lazio rob possession and Anderson plays Immobile through. The striker gets clear in the box but fires into the side netting from close range. At the other end, Abraham backheels to release El Shaarawy but his tame effort is easily stopped.
It has taken almost a quarter of the match but Roma are starting to see some chances, with Vina sending a dangerous low cross in and almost forcing an own goal. They are being let down by a series of woeful set-pieces however.
3 – #Pedro is the third player able to score in the Roma’s derby in Serie A with both clubs, after Arne Selmonsson and Aleksandar Kolarov. Capital.#LazioRoma #SerieA pic.twitter.com/kqdu98iawH
— OptaPaolo ? (@OptaPaolo) September 26, 2021
It has been all Lazio so far but Roma are slowly creeping back in, as Abraham holds the ball up well and rolls it for Veretout to strike. Reina tips it over the bar and from the resulting corner, Zaniolo heads against the post.
It had to be that man, Pedro nets against his former club! Roma get the ball forward and Zaniolo has claims for a penalty turned down after being bundled down, but a quick Immobile to break clear and tee up Pedro for a cool finish. Lazio 2-0 Roma.
Roma are looking to hit back immediately and Karsdorp can’t control a Mkhitaryan cross in the box, whilst Cristante drags a header wide from a corner.
Lazio take the lead! Anderson floats a wonderful cross into the box and the unmarked Milinkovic-Savic races into the box to meet the ball with a brave header to put the Aquile in the lead. The goalscorer is caught by Rui Patricio’s arm though and needs medical attention. Lazio 1-0 Roma.
Both sides are looking to get hold of the ball and ease their way into the match, with Roma seeing the greater share of the possession and winning some early freekicks. There is a tense atmosphere at the Olimpico.
Lazio get us underway in the first Derby della Capitale of the season!
Warm ups are completed and the teams have emerged from the tunnel, with kick-off fast approaching.
The two clubs shared the bragging rights last season, with Lazio winning 3-0 in January before Roma secured a 2-0 victory in the corresponding fixture in May. Will there be a winner today?
It’s a warm Sunday afternoon in the Italian capital and the entire city has it’s eyes on this one; the Derby della Capitale. The Stadio Olimpico is already starting to fill as fans prepare for this huge clash.
Matias Vina returns from an injury sustained on international duty with Uruguay to take his place in defence for Roma, whilst Stephan El Shaarawy replaces suspended captain Lorenzo Pellegrini. Meanwhile, Lazio forward Pedro faces his former club after his controversial summer switch.
Lazio: Reina; Marusic, Luiz Felipe, Acerbi, Hysaj; Milinkovic-Savic, Leiva, Luis Alberto; Pedro, Immobile, Felipe Anderson.
Roma: Rui Patricio; Karsdorp, Mancini, Ibanez, Vina; Cristante, Veretout; Zaniolo, Mkhitaryan, El Shaarawy; Abraham.
? Mister #Sarri ha scelto l’undici per disputare il derby! #LazioRoma pic.twitter.com/Q6EzivfD9o
— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) September 26, 2021
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Here’s our derby day XI ?
Matias Vina returns to action, Stephan El Shaarawy is the man to replace the suspended Lorenzo Pellegrini.
? DAJE! ?
#ASRoma #LazioRoma pic.twitter.com/Apa8XUajVq— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) September 26, 2021
In the UK, BT Sport have the rights to Serie A and will show around 200 games over the course of the season, with this game being shown on BT Sport 1 or on the BT Sport App. Paramount+ hold the rights in the USA, and CBS Sports Network will also be showing it. Meanwhile in Australia, beIN Sports is the official broadcaster.
If you’re living in the USA, you can view the Lazio v Roma fixture on Paramount+, with the station having signed a deal which gives them a significant portion of Serie A broadcasts for the 2021/22 season.
If you’re living in the UK, you can view the Lazio v Roma clash on BT Sport 2, with the subscription service having retained the rights to broadcast Serie A in 2021/22.
Viewers in Australia can watch the Lazio v Roma match on Monday morning on beIN Sports Connect, which is the official broadcaster of the Italian top flight in Australia. You can also get access to Serie A matches on beIN Sports through either Foxtel, Telstra, Foxtel Now or Kayo Sports.