🇮🇹 Cheap shots, red cards and tunnel fights as Rome derby delivers again | OneFootball

Sunday’s Derby della Capitale between Lazio and Roma was by no means a classic – and yet it delivered in its own engaging way.

With the blue half of the Eternal City sitting two points ahead in the Champions League positions prior to kick-off, the tension was scaled up even higher than usual.

Roma boss José Mourinho played his part on that front too. Although he was banned from the touchline, he made his presence felt in the build-up when making reference to Lazio being the only Italian side eliminated from Europe last week as AZ ousted them from the Conference League.

That tournament is the one that Mourinho’s men are the current holders of, having won the first ever edition last year.

“It is a shame that UEFA will now need to spend money to transport the trophy away from Rome,” he goaded. “It could have stayed here.”

Given such a fiery pre-game atmosphere, we shouldn’t have been surprised at what transpired.

Little football was played, there were few moments of quality and the foul and card count tells the story of a game that was halted ad nauseam by the referee’s whistle.

There were 31 fouls in total, eight yellow cards and one red in 90 minutes – for Roma defender Roger Ibañez, who cost his side dearly in the derby for the second time this season.

It was his fatal error that led to the only goal in the first meeting between the sides and he left his team-mates playing without him for over an hour this time after his early dismissal for two clumsy bookable offences.

Roma fought valiantly in his absence but a sweet finish from Mattia Zaccagni in the second half secured the win for the Aquile as he continues to flourish this season and moved within one goal of his pre-season target of 10 for the campaign.

More importantly than derby bragging rights (and in Rome they mean more than most given Italian football’s trophy picture) was the fact that Zaccagni’s strike opened up a five-point gap for Lazio as they aim for a long overdue return to the Champions League.

The tensions only increased after the final whistle too as Adam Marušić and Bryan Cristante were both sent off, while Mourinho was involved in an altercation with Lazio president Claudio Lotito in the bowels of the stadium.

According to Lotito, he attempted to intervene in a bust-up in the corridor between two players, only to be met by the ire of the Roma coach, who he accused of lacking respect in the aftermath.

Elseid Hysaj, Nicolò Casale and Danilo Cataldi all lined up to take shots at Mourinho in their various post-match interviews, indicating that the fallout from this one will be felt for quite some time.

The game itself may not have lived up to the billing but the drama certainly did. In Rome, it always does.

And elsewhere

In other derby action on Sunday, a lone Filip Kostić strike saw Juventus spoil Inter’s anniversary celebrations at San Siro.

Milan’s Jekyll and Hyde season was in evidence again as they were beaten in Udine, despite Zlatan Ibrahimović getting back among the goals.

Napoli’s charge towards the title continued with an easy victory over Torino.