A serious mistake by Nuno Tavares paves the way for the Giallorossi, who catch up with Milan in second place. The Biancocelesti regret Dia’s wasted chance and Cataldi’s shot against the post in stoppage time.
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Just like last season, just like with Ranieri. Once again, Roma pulled a surprise that proved decisive and capable of changing the entire destiny of the derby.
And once again, it was Lorenzo Pellegrini, the captain whose name has been debated more than any other within the Giallorossi environment, who stepped into the spotlight at the most critical moment. A player who has endured criticism, injuries, and doubts, suddenly became the hero of the night, gifting his team a priceless 1-0 victory over their eternal rivals Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.
Pellegrini was not even supposed to play a full match. The plan was to give him at most 45 minutes after four long months on the sidelines, his last competitive appearance dating back to May 4, 2025. His most recent goal from open play? Ironically, it had also come against Lazio, in last season’s derby. And as if fate had scripted it, the midfielder returned to the scoresheet once again in the same fixture, sealing a derby that will be remembered not only for its tactical tension but also for its psychological twists. Instead of being limited to a cameo role, Pellegrini pushed himself to stay on for 72 minutes, showing grit and determination that matched the significance of the occasion.
For Gasperini, this victory was also a personal redemption. His side had stumbled against Torino in the previous round, a result that raised questions about Roma’s consistency at the start of the new campaign. By beating Lazio, he not only regained the trust of supporters but also sent Roma level with Milan in second place in the Serie A standings, only behind the early leaders. For the Giallorossi, it was the perfect response and a clear signal that they intend to compete at the very top this season.
The match itself was anything but a spectacle in the opening stages. Sarri, wary of Roma’s ability to break vertically with pace and precision, deliberately set his team up in a way to limit space in midfield. Lazio recovered Rovella at the last minute and lined up Dia alongside Pedro in attack, dropping Castellanos and Cancellieri to the bench. It was a tactical decision aimed at combining mobility with finishing power. Meanwhile, Gasperini opted for his own gamble: starting Pellegrini immediately, even if his physical condition was a question mark, and slotting Rensch in to replace the ailing Wesley.
The game, however, was suffocated by fouls, tactical interruptions, and the oppressive Roman heat. After just 12 minutes, Sarri was dealt a major blow when Dele-Bashiru pulled up with a thigh flexor issue, forcing him to replace the midfielder with Belahyane. Despite this setback, the early opportunities all came from Lazio. Pedro fired over, Tavares also missed the target, Zaccagni forced Svilar into a good save from distance, and Rovella delivered a dangerous ball into the box that neither Dia nor Zaccagni managed to convert.
Then came the turning point, and it was classic Gasperini football. Roma pressed high, refusing to let Lazio build comfortably. Rensch robbed Nuno Tavares of the ball, quickly fed Soulé, and the Argentine displayed his vision by slipping the perfect assist to Pellegrini. The midfielder’s strike was clinical, and his celebration was emotional nearly in tears, he embraced the moment as a symbolic rebirth. For Roma, it was their very first shot of the entire match, but it proved decisive.
Lazio, stunned by conceding in such fashion, tried to react. Angelino provided a rare quality ball, which allowed Rensch to almost double Roma’s lead, but the Giallorossi failed to capitalize. From that point on, the match tilted into a battle of nerves. Lazio became increasingly aggressive, spurred on by frustration and the urgency of not losing ground in the league. The Biancocelesti pushed harder in the second half, but their efforts were often chaotic rather than composed. Dia wasted a golden chance to equalize, miscuing what should have been a straightforward finish. Sarri later introduced Castellanos, who immediately gave Roma’s backline problems with his energy and movement, but the equalizer never came.
In stoppage time, Lazio’s hopes came agonizingly close to being realized when Cataldi unleashed a thunderous effort that smashed against the post, leaving Svilar rooted to the spot. The near miss summed up their evening: a mixture of bad luck, poor finishing, and decisions that backfired. To make matters worse, tempers flared in the dying moments. Belahyane and Guendouzi both saw red cards as frustration boiled over, leaving Lazio not only defeated but also depleted.
For Roma, this was more than just a derby victory. It was a statement of intent, proof that Gasperini’s methods can still deliver against top opposition, and evidence that Pellegrini remains a leader capable of defining the club’s trajectory. His resilience after months of absence, capped by a decisive goal in the city’s most important fixture, will likely silence his critics at least for now. With this win, Roma climbed into the Serie A top two, alongside Milan, and kept pace with the Scudetto contenders. The Giallorossi fans can start to dream of a season where their team challenges consistently at the summit rather than merely fighting for Champions League qualification.
For Lazio, on the other hand, the alarm bells are ringing. Three defeats in their opening four matches paint the picture of a team struggling to find rhythm, creativity, and cutting edge. Sarri’s choices, especially leaving Castellanos on the bench initially and trusting Dia, will be scrutinized. A season that was supposed to start with optimism now feels shaky, and unless immediate improvements are made, the Biancocelesti risk falling behind in the Serie A race for European places. The derby loss doesn’t just damage pride; it puts Lazio in a precarious position in the table, dangerously close to the lower half after just a handful of games.
In the end, the Derby della Capitale was decided not by flowing football or tactical masterclasses, but by one man’s willpower and a moment of precision. Lorenzo Pellegrini reminded everyone why derbies are made for heroes, why football thrives on redemption stories, and why in Rome, nothing matters more than beating your eternal rival. With the Serie A season still long and demanding, this derby could serve as the spark for Roma’s title ambitions and as the early warning for a Lazio campaign already under pressure.
