Roma steal bragging rights after 3-1 win over Lazio

This report was published on the Eurosport website. You can read it at: https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/serie-a/2018-2019/roma-steal-bragging-rights-after-3-1-win-over-lazio_sto6950318/story.shtml

Roma recorded back-to-back victories for the first time this season as they defeated their city neighbours Lazio 3-1 at the Stadio Olimpico, writes Oli Gent.

Despite early Lazio pressure and a nervy Roma start, the home side grew in confidence and just had too much firepower for their counterparts come the 90th minute.

A flurry of Lazio corners in the first 10 minutes had many home supporters worried and watching through bitten fingers, but as the game progressed the Giallorossi grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and hauled it back to the way that they wanted it to be played. The first real turning point was Edin Dzeko's first clear-cut chance of the game, where the big Bosnian wriggled free and rode rogue challenges to test Thomas Strakosha.

The brown soldiers began to crank up the temperature on their opponents, as Alessandro Florenzi and Steven N'Zonzi both went close, with Stephan El Shawaarwy reaping havoc on the Roma left with mazy runs and quick feet.

It was the substitute Lorenzo Pellegrini, though, that turned out to be the cult hero, netting the game's deadlock-breaking goal with a cheeky backflick on the stroke of half-time to leave Lazio demoralised and lax as they went in at the break.

A tactical switch by Lazio manager Simone Inzaghi allowed his Serbian talisman Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to roam more freely into the final third, but it came to next-to-no effect with the powerful box-to-boxer quiet throughout.

Just as Roma looked to be in an unassailible ascendancy, Ciro Immobile sent a murmur of shock and horror around the Olimpico as he fired home past Robin Olsen.

But any elation and delirium that stemmed from that goal was scrapped, as the man brought on to relinquish Milinkovic-Savic, Milan Badelj, turned pantomime villain as he conceded the free kick that former Manchester City left-back Aleksandar Kolarov thundered in from 19 yards.

Inzaghi realised the urgency that was needed, and thus threw on big Ecaudorian Felipe Caicedo (also ex-Manchester City) as the Biancocelesti went more direct in an attempt to salvage at least a draw.

However, it was the forehead of Federico Fazio, the old Tottenham centre-back, that came up trumps for Roma as he powered in a third and put the game beyond the Aquile.

TALKING POINT

The tactical change that was meant to win Lazio the game crushed all momentum they had

Immobile had smashed Lazio back on terms right against the run of play, and it seemed as though the tactical manoeurvering of Milinkovic-Savic into a more advanced role was a successful one, with Croat Badelj holding and covering the Serb defensively. However, it was Badelj's stupid foul and lack of discipline that led to Kolarov restoring parity for Roma, who then had the momentum and confidence to go on and sneak a third to kill off the game and seal the points.

MAN OF THE MATCH - Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)

They stuttered out of the blocks with Javier Pastore on the pitch, but when the Argentine limped off on 35 minutes, Pellegrini was fired-up for the occasion and struck to draw first blood, before turning provider for Fazio as Roma snuck a third.The youngster's energy and dynamism when pushing forward from his number 10 hole in behind Dzeko was key in Roma's victory and they looked a much better side when he got on the ball and started driving at the Lazio defence and having them retreat towards their own goal. Despite the criticism the Italian has come under for being too inexperienced and over-flamboyant for the big occasion, he proved why he deserves a shot in the Italian senior national side. Other notable names were El Shawaarwy for the danger he created throughout, and Steven N'Zonzi, for his strong and durable performance that put a world-class player like Milinkovic-Savic off his best.

PLAYER RATINGS

Roma

Olsen 6, Santon 6, Manolas 7, Fazio 6, Kolarov 8, N'Zonzi 7, De Rossi 6, Florenzi 6, Pastore 5, El Shawaarwy 8, Dzeko 6 (Subs: Pellegrini 9, Cristante 5, Jesus 5)

Lazio

Strakosha 6, Acerbi 6, Caceres 6, Felipe 6, Marusic 5, Parolo 5, Lucas 5, Milinkovic-Savic 5, Lulic 5, Alberto 5, Immobile 6 (Subs: Badelj 5, Correa 5, Caicedo 6)

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