Serie A: Roma Edges Lazio in Tense Derby della Capitale

Roma beats Lazio 1-0

Roma defeated Lazio 1-0 in the Derby della Capitale, with Lorenzo Pellegrini scoring the winning goal in a tense and closely contested match.

Lazio's defensive woes continued as they struggled to cope with Roma's set-piece threats...

Lorenzo Pellegrini scored the decisive goal in Lazio's 1-0 win over Roma in the Derby della Capitale. The match saw Rade Belahyane of Lazio sent off, while Danilo Cataldi hit the post for the home side. Both teams were looking to bounce back from recent defeats and were dealing with injury concerns.

Roma's lineup featured some surprises, with Pedro and Boulaye Dia preferred over Taty Castellanos and Matteo Canceleiri. Nicolò Rovella passed a fitness test and was available for selection, but Matias Vecino, Samuel Gigot, and Manuel Lazzari were ruled out due to injuries. Meanwhile, Roma were without key players like Paulo Dybala, Leon Bailey, and Wesley, with Mario Hermoso also nursing a knock.

 

Lazio's match got off to a rocky start when Fisayo Dele-Bashiru limped off the field after just 14 minutes, replaced by Reda Belahyane due to a suspected strain in his right thigh. Before his exit, Pedro and Nuno Tavares both had promising shots blast just wide of the target from the edge of the penalty area.

As the game progressed, Lazio's goalkeeper Mile Svilar was tested with a beautifully curled effort from Mattia Zaccagni, which looped menacingly towards the far top corner but managed to palm the ball out. Lazio nearly took the lead from the ensuing set piece, but Alessio Romagnoli's header sailed over the bar.

The turning point came when Roma seized their first real scoring opportunity, capitalizing on a mistake as Rovella's cross from the right sailed past both Dia and Mattia Zaccagni, allowing Roma to take the lead. This moment marked a significant shift in momentum, as Roma began to assert their dominance on the field.

Nuno Tavares had a promising attack thwarted by Devyne Rensch's clever play from the back. However, Roma quickly capitalized on the turnover. Matias Soulé expertly rolled the ball across the box for Lorenzo Pellegrini, who swept home the opener from just inside the penalty area. This marked Pellegrini's fourth goal in the Derby della Capitale for Roma, and he was visibly emotional in the moment.

Roma nearly doubled their lead in stoppage time when Ivan Provedel made a spectacular reaction save. Angelino's cross was deflected, and Rensch attempted a half-volley from close range at the back post, but Provedel's athleticism denied the Giallorossi a second goal.

Roma take the derby bragging rights! 🟡🔴#LazioRoma pic.twitter.com/2XezlOry9z

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) September 21, 2025

Nicolò Rovella's early substitution due to injury didn't deter Roma's momentum. In the second half, Ivan Provedel made a crucial save, fingertipping Angelino's chest control and half-volley attempt onto the side netting. Roma continued to press forward, dominating possession and creating scoring opportunities.

However, their efforts were almost derailed when Gianluca Mancini's costly error gifted Boulaye Dia a clear chance on goal. Dia's one-on-one opportunity with Mile Svilar ended in disappointment as he blasted the ball over the bar. Roma's attacking threat persisted with the introduction of Taty Castellanos, who quickly tested Svilar with a near-post effort and later curled a shot inches wide from a Mario Gila assist.

Tommaso Baldanzi had a promising moment when he hooked in Kostas Tsimikas' cross and flashed a solo effort across the face of the goal, but it wasn't meant to be. The dynamics of the match shifted dramatically when Lazio was reduced to 10 men. Rade Belahyane saw red after a reckless, late tackle with studs up on Manu Kone's calf, earning a straight red card from the referee.

Lazio's defensive woes continued as they struggled to cope with Roma's set-piece threats. A scorpion heel flick from Castellanos on a free kick left Lazio's defense scrambling, but nobody could capitalize on the opportunity. Artem Dovbyk then had a chance to make a difference, but his effort sailed into the side-netting. The pressure was palpable, especially when Castellanos closed in on Mile Svilar near the edge of the penalty area, forcing the goalkeeper to make a crucial decision under duress.

Mile Svilar made a spectacular one-handed save on Taty Castellanos after Mattia Zaccagni cleverly robbed Gianluca Mancini and pulled the ball back from the byline. Despite this impressive stop, Lazio couldn't avoid the loss. In the dying moments of the match, Danilo Cataldi had a golden opportunity to equalize with a sensational curler that bounced off the top of the far post, leaving the Roma goalkeeper with no chance but to watch helplessly.

The match ended with drama as Tommaso Baldanzi's effort skimmed the upright, and moments later, the final whistle blew. Lazio's misery was compounded when Matteo Guendouzi saw red for dissent, adding to the tumultuous end to the match.