Lazio did the double on their rivals for the first time in 11 years, as Mattia Zaccagni’s goal proved enough after Roger Ibanez foolishly got himself sent off just 32 minutes in for Roma.
This was not just a bitter local derby, but also a head-to-head for the top four, as they were separated by just two points going in. Ciro Immobile was still out injured and Matias Vecino suspended, while Ivan Provedel was able to start despite flu symptoms. Jose Mourinho sat out a touchline ban, with Marash Kumbulla suspended and Rick Karsdorp suffering from a fractured nose.
Luis Alberto and Gini Wijnaldum hit scorchers not far off target, while Felipe Anderson couldn’t get enough power on the finish to trouble Rui Patricio.
Mattia Zaccagni’s curler was well smothered, but Roma went down to 10 men after just 32 minutes. Roger Ibanez was already on a yellow card, his poor first touch gave the ball away in midfield and he brought down Sergej Milinkovic-Savic for an inevitable second booking.
Milinkovic-Savic’s acrobatic scissor-kick volley went wide, then a flashpoint erupted on the touchline around Pedro, leading to Lazio staff member Marco Ianni and Roma goalkeeping coach Nuno Santos seeing red.
Chris Smalling bravely charged down a Pedro snapshot with his face and Roma battened down the hatches by replacing Paulo Dybala with defender Diego Llorente.
A long-range screamer from Luis Alberto was fingertipped out from under the bar by Rui Patricio, who had to adjust his position mid-air to reach it. The Spaniard had another two attempts, one wide, the other charged down by Gianluca Mancini, as it turned into a siege.
Felipe Anderson was lucky the offside flag spared his blushes after he fired straight at the goalkeeper from point-blank range on a corner.
Lazio’s onslaught eventually paid off, as Felipe Anderson got a toe to the through ball to send Zaccagni down the left, a ricochet off Nicola Zalewski fell kindly for him and the Italy international swept the finish into the far bottom corner with the inside of the right boot.
Just over a couple of minutes later, Roma had the ball in the net when Lorenzo Pellegrini’s free kick found a Mancini header, Rui Patricio saved, Chris Smalling knocked it on and Nicolò Casale bundled into his own net. However, VAR showed that Smalling was offside and the goal was disallowed.
Llorente made a decisive interception to stop Luis Alberto going clear on goal, while Provedel at full stretch had to flap away a swerving Leonardo Spinazzola cross-shot.
In stoppages, Bryan Cristante only grazed his head to the Stephan El Shaarawy cross, as the 10 men pushed to the bitter end.
The scuffles resumed after the final whistle, leading to a red card for Cristante and Adam Marusic.
Lazio 1-0 Roma
Zaccagni 65 (L)
Sent off: Ibanez 32 (R), Cristante 97 (R), Marusic 97 (L)
Player statistic
| 8' |  |
Roger Ibañez | ||
| Luis Alberto | |
26' | ||
| 32' |  |
Roger Ibañez |
| Alessio Romagnoli | |
60' | ||
| Mattia Zaccagni (Assist: Felipe Anderson) |
 |
65' | ||
| 71' | |
Bryan Cristante | ||
| 80' | |
Gianluca Mancini | ||
| Matteo Cancellieri | |
89' | ||
| Toma Basic | |
90+2' | ||
| Adam Marusic |  |
90+7' | ||
| 90+7' | |
Bryan Cristante |
Match statistic
Mancini was wrong not select Zaccagni for the national team.