Mattia Zaccagni scored the only goal of the Rome Derby as Lazio beat 10-man Roma to go second in Serie A and strengthen their Champions League hopes.
Roma were left up against it on 32 minutes when Roger Ibanez was sent off for a second yellow card – foolishly tripping Sergej Milinkovic-Savic after losing possession.
An assistant manager from each side was also sent off following a scuffle as the first-half featured more dismissals than clear-cut chances.
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Jose Mourinho was not on the touchline to begin with as he served a ban for arguing with a fourth official.
The home team played with more urgency after the interval and got the breakthrough via Zaccagni, who cooly slotted home from a tight angle.
Roma thought they had equalised from a set piece, but it was rightly disallowed for an offside and that was as close as they came.
Lazio now have 52 points in second place, but will drop back to third if Inter beat Juventus later on Sunday. Roma stay fifth on 47 points.
TALKING POINT – Idiotic Ibanez costs Roma again
Roma were not good before the red card, but they were hamstrung after it and only one team looked like winning. It wasn’t the one playing with a man down.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio)
Zaccagni took his goal really well and was a thorn in Roma’s side – particularly that of Nicola Zalewski.
PLAYER RATINGS
Lazio: Provedel 6, Marusic 5, Casale 6, Romagnoli 7, Hysaj 6, Milinkovic-Savic 7, Cataldi 6, Alberto 7, Pedro 7, Anderson 6, Zaccagni 8. Subs: Cancellieri 5, Basic 5.
Roma: Patricio 7, Mancini 5, Smalling 7, Ibanez 3, Zalewski 6, Cristante 6, Wijnaldum 4, Spinazzola 5, Dybala 4, Pellegrini 5, Belotti 6. Subs: Llorente 6, Abraham 5, Matic 5, El Shaarawy 5, Solbakken n/a.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
IBANEZ SENT OFF 32′ – Ibanez is off! A loose touch sets the Roma man up to lose the ball in the opposition half, and he then panics, tripping Milinkovic-Savic to earn a second yellow card.
PATRICIO TIPS OVER 54′ – Alberto has time to size up a shot and lets fly from range, stinging the fingertips of an unsighted Patricio who helps it over.
ZACCAGNI GIVES LAZIO LEAD 65′ – Zaccagni reacts quickest when Zalewski gets caught out, works the ball onto his right foot and then finishes brilliantly from a tight angle.
ROMA GOAL DISALLOWED 68′ – Roma pump a free kick long, there’s a goalmouth scramble and Smalling sets up Casale to slice into his own net – but Smalling was offside so the goal will not stand.
PROVEDEL CLAWS CHIP AWAY 77′ – The Lazio goalkeeper has had very little to do but was alert to the danger Spinazzola posed.
KEY STAT
Lazio have now kept five clean sheets in a row in Serie A.
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