Game 31, Serie A
Saturday, April 6, 2024
Stadio Olimpico
Roma Lazio 1-0
Lazio too scared of losing to be mentally prepared to win, Roma take advantage
The team
Igor Tudor for his first derby decided to play with Nicolò Casale in defence, Daichi Kamada and Matias Vecino in midfield, Felipe Anderson on the left and Gustav Isaksen near Ciro Immobile. Luis Alberto was on the bench.
First half
Leandro Paredes had a first opportunity in the second minute when his volley from just outside the box shaved the crossbar. Lazio had their first really big opportunity in the 7th minute. Isaksen passed to Immobile in the box but his shot went wide. In the 10th two consecutive volleys from Diego Llorente put the Biancoceleste defence in difficulty. That was more or less it until the 42nd minute. Neither team took control of the match, but there was a feeling that Roma had more to offer than the Biancocelesti, too paralysed by the fear of losing. The game changer came towards the end of the first half. Corner for Roma, Paolo Dybala crossed, Gianluca Mancini, finding no opposition from Alessio Romagnoli, headed the ball in.
At this point, with Lazio in the usual state of confusion when trailing, most fans knew that the game was lost.
Second half
During the interval Tudor changed Romagnoli, Immobile and Isaksen (the first two were injured) and in came Patric, Taty Castellanos and Pedro. But Lazio just hit the defensive Roma wall time and time again. In the 54th minute counter attack started by Romelu Lukaku, ball to Stephan El Shaarawy in the box, his left shot hit the woodwork. The Biancocelesti actually did score in the 63rd minute with Kamada but he was clearly offside.
The game ended here. Lazio, very, very, nervous, fell into Roma's provocation traps and lost it. They were unable to overcome their psychological problems, as has often happened this season. Roma controlled the game and brought home a derby victory after two years.
Who played for Roma
Svilar, Cristante, Pellegrini, Llorente, Paredes (81' Bove), Celik, Dybala (78' Abraham), Mancini, Angeliño (78' Smalling), Lukaku, El Shaarawy (70' Spinazzola)
Substitutes: Rui Patricio, Boer, Karsdorp, Huijsen, Renato Sanches, Baldanzi, Kristensen, Zalewski, Pisilli, João Costa
Manager: De Rossi
Who played for Lazio
Mandas, Vecino (70' Luis Alberto), Kamada, Felipe Anderson, Guendouzi, Romagnoli (46' Patric), Casale, Immobile (46' Castellanos), Isaksen (46' Pedro), Gila, Marusic (78' Pellegrini)
Substitutes: Sepe, Renzetti, Hysaj, Cataldi, Rovella
Manager: Tudor
Referee: Guida
Goal: 42’ Mancini
Booked: Vecino (L), Mancini (R), Celik (R), Pedro (L), Castellanos (L), Paredes (R), Pellegrini (R), Lukaku (R)
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