Lazio Fall Short in Roma Derby as Claudio Ranieri Outfoxes Marco Baroni

Lazio coach Marco Baroni suffered his first Derby della Capitale defeat as Roma boss Claudio Ranieri prevailed over his old student.

The Lineups

The Biancocelseti manager adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru supporting Taty Castellanos upfront, while Gustav Isaksen and Mattia Zaccagni took the wings. Matteo Guendouzi and Nicolo Rovella started in the double as usual. On the other hand, the Giallorossi played in a 3-4-2-1 system spearheaded by Artem Dovbyk, with Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini operating right behind him.

Replicated Maneuver

Roma scored twice in the first 18 minutes, almost replicating the same maneuver with Dovbyk acting as a battering ram, receiving a long ball in the middle of the park while drawing Alessio Romagnoli and Co. off their area, before laying it to Dybala who would then switch the play to the right side.

Lorenzo Pellegrini & Alexis Salemaekers Score

On the first occasion, Pellegrini received the ball on the edge of Lazio’s box, and Mario Gila granted him enough space to launch an unstoppable shot towards the top corner, with the power taking it beyond Ivan Provedel despite attempting a fingertip save. On the second goal, Alexis Saelemakers found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. While Provedel stopped the initial attempt, the Belgian latched on the rebound to drill it home.

Second-Half Changes Not Enough

After the break, Baroni immediately introduced Loum Tchaouna on the right wing, while Boulaye Dia replaced Dele-Bashiru, as Castellanos dropped to a deeper role thus leaving the Senegalese to act as the solitary striker. The Aquile launched an onslaught early on, with Castellanos, Tchaouna, Guendouzi and Nuno Tavares all threatening Mile Svilar’s goal, but to no avail, as the Roma defences held firm.

Chaotic End

Towards the end of the fixture, tensions were beginning to flare, and it culminated with a major melee in the final minutes following an altercation between Castellanos and Mats Hummels which resulted in the Argentine’s dismissal, thus adding to Baroni’s woes on his first Derby.

Roma 2-0 Lazio

Goals: 10′ Pellegrini (R), 17′ Saelemaekers (R)

ROMA (3-5-2):  Svilar; Mancini, Hummels, Ndicka; Saelemaekers (66′ El Shaarawy), Konè, Paredes, Pellegrini (66′ Pisilli), Angelino; Dybala (73′ Balzandi), Dovbyk (73′ Shomurodov).

LAZIO (4-3-3):  Provedel; Marusic (78′ Lazzari), Gila, Romagnoli, Nuno Tavares (88′ Pellegrini); Guendouzi, Rovella, Dele-Bashiru (46′ Dia); Isaksen (46′ Tchaouna), Castellanos, Zaccagni (88′ Noslin).

Referee: Pairetto from Nichelino.

Yellow cards: Gila (L), Zaccagni (L), Saelemaekers (R), Castellanos (L), Rovella (L), Dybala (R), Dia (L), Paredes (R).

Expelled: Castellanos (L).