Game 19, Serie A
Sunday January 5, 2025
Stadio Olimpico
Roma Lazio 2-0
A terrible first half allows Roma to win the derby
The team
Marco Baroni did not have much of a choice as far as players were concerned since Matias Vecino was injured, Tijani Noslin and Pedro not match fit. The manager was forced to put Elseid Hysaj and Toma Basic, two players that have not been part of the squad so far, on the bench.
First half
Roma started really well and Manu Kone in the 3rd minute had a chance well saved by Ivan Provedel. Lazio were nervous and the Giallorossi took advantage. In the 10th minute a counter attack started by Paulo Dybala who passed to Alexis Saelemaekers, ball in the box for Lorenzo Pellegrini who turned around and sent a splendid curling shot into the top hand corner for Roma’s first of the day.
The Biancocelesti were in shock and Roma scored again seven minutes later. Mile Svilar sent a long ball towards the centre of the pitch, Arten Dovbyk anticipated Alessio Romagnoli and passed to Dybala who had a freeway in front of him. Nuno Tavares moved towards him so the Argentine passed to Saelemaekers unmarked on the right who ran into the box. His first attempt was parried by Provedel but not his second.
Lazio reacted with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru in the 22nd minute. He dribbled past a couple of players and once inside the box tried a shot which Evan Ndicka deflected into corner.
Nothing much happened in the rest of the first half. Biancocelesti in shock and unable to create anything, Roma in complete control.
Second half
Baroni made a couple of changes in the interval. Out went Dele-Bashiru and Gustav Isaksen and in came Boulaye Dia and Loum Tchaouna.
Lazio were completely transformed and took over the match. In the 49th minute a splendid initiative from Taty Castellanos who tried a shot which Svilar saved into corner. The keeper did the same a minute later on a shot from Matteo Guendouzi.
Pellegrini had a chance to make it three in the 58th minute but Provedel saved. A minute later a great chance for the Biancocelesti. Nuno Tavares from the left sent in a long cross which Dia headed towards the centre. Tchaouna was ready for the kill but lost his balance and his consequent contact with the ball was clumsy and it hit the top of the crossbar.
Roma were in difficulty so Claudio Ranieri took off Pellegrini and Saelemaekers and put in Niccolò Pisilli and Stephan El Shaarawy. Later on Dybala and Dovbyk were also substituted by Tommaso Baldanzi and Eldor Shomurodov.
In the 69th minute Castellanos again with a shot and yet again parried by Svilar. Roma then started their usual tactics and Dia was booked for a retaliatory push after Leandro Paredes deliberately provoked him. No yellow card for the Roma player obviously.
In the 79th minute Nuno Tavares went solo after dribbling past a couple of players, on the left in front of Svilar he tried a shot which went wide of the far post.
Baroni tried to replace the very tired players with fresh ones so in came Manuel Lazzari, Tijani Noslin and Luca Pellegrini for Adam Marusic, Mattia Zaccagni and Nuno Taveres. But Roma defended well and there was nothing Lazio could do.
In injury time a brawl began between the players started by a Castellanos kick at Mats Hummels and the German’s furious reaction. In the end Castellanos was sent off but no yellow card for the Roma player, obviously.
Roma won the derby. Lazio threw it away in the first half and could not set the sail straight in the second.
Who played for Roma
Svilar, Mancini, Hummels, Ndicka, Saelemaekers (67' El Shaarawy), Konè, Paredes, Angelino, Dybala (74' Baldanzi), Pellegrini (67' Pisilli), Dovbyk (74' Shomurodov)
Substitutes: Marin, De Marzi, Dahl, Hermoso, Le Fèe, Sangarè, Saud, Soulè, Zalewski
Manager: Ranieri
Who played for Lazio
Provedel, Marusic (79' Lazzari), Gila, Romagnoli, Nuno Tavares (89' Pellegrini), Guendouzi, Rovella, Dele-Bashiru (46' Dia), Isaksen (46' Tchaouna), Castellanos, Zaccagni (89' Noslin)
Substitutes: Mandas, Furlanetto, Gigot, Pedro, Castrovilli, Hysaj, Basic
Manager: Baroni
Referee: Pairetto
Goals: 10' Pellegrini, 17' Saelemaekers
Booked: Gila (L), Zaccagni (L), Saelemaekers (R), Castellanos (L), Rovella (L), Dybala (R), Dia (L), Pellegrini (L), Ndicka (R)
Red Card: Castellanos (L)
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