AS Roma 1-0 Lazio (21 Sep, 2025) Game Analysis

Stripped of the captaincy. His contract nearing expiration with out a renewal proposal. No minutes performed within the opening three matches.

Nothing gave the impression to be going Lorenzo Pellegrini’s manner. Till the Rome derby.

The Roman-born Pellegrini forged apart all the problems surrounding him and scored the decisive aim for Roma in a 1-0 win over Lazio in Serie A on Sunday.

After being derided by Gian Piero Gasperini a day earlier when Roma’s new coach stated that at 29 Pellegrini has “obtained to change into an athlete and begin working,” the midfielder was completely positioned to strike from the middle of the realm after Dwayne Rensch had stripped the ball from Lazio left again Nuno Tavares and rolled it throughout to the ex-captain.

Pellegrini, who can also be attempting to regain his spot in Italy’s squad, celebrated with a kiss towards the Curva Sud the place Roma’s hard-core “extremely” followers sit.

Moments earlier than the aim, a banner popped up within the Curva Sud that stated, “Welcome again, captain.”

After the aim, Roma’s finish of the Stadio Olimpico erupted with yellow-and-red smoke bombs.

It was Pellegrini’s fourth profession aim within the Derby della Capitale – however his first since January in any competitors.

Earlier than the season, Gasperini gave the captain’s armband to Stephan El Shaarawy based mostly on seniority.

Pellegrini obtained the beginning with Paulo Dybala out injured.

The derby was moved to a lunchtime begin to discourage fan violence after 24 cops had been injured throughout clashes likened to “city warfare ” on the earlier derby, which was performed at night time in April.

With the sport beginning at 12:30 p.m. native time, the temperature contained in the Stadio Olimpico rose above 30 levels (almost 90 F), requiring cooling breaks for the groups halfway by every half.

Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri stated on Saturday that shifting the sport into the warmth of the day as a result of authorities could not assure public order for a later begin was “a loss for soccer.”

The sooner begin was designed to provide hooligans much less time to create issues and certainly there wasn’t a lot in the way in which of dysfunction reported instantly.

Though police exterior the stadium confiscated picket and plastic golf equipment with blades and screws hooked up to them.

Gasperini beats Sarri Lazio created extra probabilities early on however could not fairly discover the goal.

Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar leaped to palm a shot from Lazio captain Mattia Zaccagni over the crossbar halfway by the primary half.

Within the second half, Lazio striker Boulaye Dia wasted a counterattack that noticed him dash towards a one-on-one confrontation with Svilar after which blast his effort over the bar.

And Taty Castellanos curled a shot simply broad within the 76th as Lazio pressed ahead determined for an equalizer.

Lazio ended with 10 males when Reda Belahyane was proven a straight purple card for a foul on Manu Koné within the 88th.

Nonetheless, Lazio stored on threatening and Danilo Cataldi hit the put up in stoppage time.

Roma has received three of its 4 opening matches below Gasperini, who changed the retiring Claudio Ranieri after 9 high-scoring seasons at Atalanta.

The Giallorossi moved as much as fourth place, stage on factors with AC Milan and defending champion Napoli and one level behind chief Juventus, which was held 1-1 at Hella Verona on Saturday.

Napoli can prolong its excellent begin towards promoted Pisa on Monday.

Later, Inter Milan was internet hosting Sassuolo, Atalanta was visiting Torino, and Fiorentina was enjoying Como.

Lazio has now misplaced three of 4 since Sarri was rehired.