The Rome Derby popularly known in Italy as the Derby Della Capitale or Derby Della Capitolino is a ferocious intra-city rivalry between Roma and Lazio both of Rome. Many believe this Derby is the most fiercely contested in Italian football ahead of other famous derbies such as the Milan Derby( Derby Della Madonnina) and the Turin Derby( Derby Della Mole). The 90-year-old rivalry and bad blood between these 2 clubs is so fierce that in 1979 it recorded the 1st fatality in Italian football when a Lazio fan was struck and killed by a flare gun fired by a Roma fan. It also saw a league clash in 2004 abandoned just 4 minutes into the 2nd-half due to fans violence. Such was the nature of Derby Della Capitale, thankfully, the latest episode of the Rome derby wasn't dramatic or fatal, rather, an entertaining 1 all draw.
With 5 Scudettos shared between Roma(3; 1941/42, 82/83 & 2000/01) and Lazio(2; 1973/74 & 1999/2000), they came into matchday 2 at the Stadio Olimpico, not with the unrealistic aim of winning the Scudetto but the chance to qualify for next season's European competitions.
The last 5 league meetings between them have seen both teams with 2 wins and a draw including a 3-nil Lazio win and a 3-1 Roma win in the reverse fixtures of last season. Lazio the team in form, having started the season with a convincing 3 nil win at Sampdoria, Roma, on the other hand, were held at home 3 all by Genoa in their season opener.
Lazio manager Simone Inzaghi made just 1 change to the team that won 3 nil at Sampdoria, dropping Marco Parolo for Lucas in the holding midfield role, Roma manager Paulo Fonseca, like his counterpart, made just 1 change to his line up, Gianluca Mancini preferred at the heart of the defence to Juan Jesus.
Like in most derbies, form doesn't really count, as Roma put their nose in front from the spot-kick in the 17th minute, Aleksander Kolarov with his 2nd goal of the season(having scored 1 in the 3 all draw against Genoa). Roma held unto the 1 nil lead going into the half-time break. However, Lazio levelled 13 minutes into the restart, Luiz Alberto teed up by Ciro Immobile in the 58th minutes. It ended 1 all at the Stadio Olimpico with both teams having 3 or more players in the referee's disciplinary book.
The result didn't tell the full story, it was a ferocious encounter as expected and the scoreline could have ended in a 3-3 or 4-4 draw as Lazio struck the post 4 times while Roma also hit the woodwork 2 times but in the end, it was a goal apiece.
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