Roma sink Lazio in Rome derby

It’s the doomsday scenario for the Aquile – they need at least a point away to Napoli on Sunday night to qualify for the Champions League preliminary round.

This was a huge Derby della Capitale, as only one point separated them in the race for second, which is the difference between Champions League group phase qualification and a preliminary round. The Aquile needed one point to be sure of a top three finish ahead of the final trip to Napoli.

Lucas Biglia made a remarkable recovery from a knee injury to start in a more attack-minded 4-2-3-1 system, though Stefan Radu missed out. Gervinho and Douglas Maicon were back on the bench, but Miralem Pjanic was left out after struggling with fitness issues.

There was no choreography in the Curva Sud, as the Roma ultras only unveiled a banner protesting President James Pallotta. ‘A real President doesn’t insult his people.’

Lazio got off to a stronger start, as after five minutes Miroslav Klose had turned a diving header wide from six yards. The crowd was already cheering, not expecting the German to miss from there.

Senad Lulic was booked for a terrible tackle from behind on Juan Manuel Iturbe, but the referee resisted calls from Roma players to flash a straight red.

Alessandro Florenzi’s half-volley from distance was deflected over, as was an Antonio Candreva strike, while Morgan De Sanctis smothered a Felipe Anderson cross-shot. Roma only had one effort in the first half and it wasn’t on target, their worst start all season.

Straight after the restart Dusan Basta drilled just wide of the far post. Senad Lulic risked a second booking for his clumsy challenge on Francesco Totti, but instead Vasilis Torosidis was carded for dissent.

Roma had penalty appeals when Klose appeared to have his arm around Juan Manuel Iturbe’s neck as they both jumped, then a Stefano Mauri overhead kick was charged down.

Lazio stepped up the pressure again, but Florenzi had a solo effort blocked from close range and on the resulting corner Victor Ibarbo somehow prodded wide from six yards.

It was Roma who eventually took the lead with only of their only real chances. Radja Nainggolan surged forward on the counter and spread the play down the right for Ibarbo, who pulled back from the by-line for Iturbe to turn in from six yards. The striker got in front of Basta to tap in.

It was almost 2-0 moments later, as Nainggolan again turned on the turbo, but this time his assist was between two Roma players.

Biglia went off after a clash of heads, but Lazio equalised after eight minutes with another well-worked move. Felipe Anderson’s taut cross was nodded back from the by-line by Klose for a Filip Djordjevic cushioned header from close range. The Serbian centre-forward had missed most of the season with a fractured ankle.

However, the Giallorossi restored their advantage almost immediately. Pjanic’s free kick found Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa for a glancing header, his first goal in a Roma jersey. There were three players offside, but he was not one of them.

The Derby had suddenly exploded and Lazio poured forward through five minutes of stoppages, but Candreva blasted over from distance.

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