Roma dominated the Derby della Capitale with a very early brace from Tammy Abraham and stunning Lorenzo Pellegrini free kick, as Lazio were simply AWOL at the Olimpico.
The result lets them leapfrog their rivals into fifth place, albeit awaiting Atalanta.
The Giallorossi had a full squad to choose from other than Leonardo Spinazzola, as Pellegrini recovered from tonsillitis, with Nicolò Zaniolo dropped. Mattia Zaccagni was suspended and Stefan Radu injured, so Pedro started against his former club.
It was not just a bitter local derby, but also a head-to-head for position, as only one point separated the teams. Maurizio Sarri’s men had won 3-2 earlier this season.
The game was barely 60 seconds in when Roma took the lead, as Pellegrini’s in-swinging corner bounced off the crossbar and ricocheted in off Tammy Abraham’s crotch from a yard, with Thomas Strakosha totally at sea.
Although Lazio had much of the ball, the Giallorossi were decidedly more clinical, Rick Karsdorp flashing a ball across the face of goal from the right for Abraham to acrobatically tap in at the far post.
Serie A Liveblog inc Juve-Salernitana, Roma-Lazio, Bologna-Atalanta
Nicola Zalewski almost made it 3-0, his angled drive parried by Strakosha on a Henrikh Mkhitaryan assist, while Rui Patricio smothered a Luis Alberto effort from distance.
Pellegrini had been in doubt for this match through tonsillitis, but he scored with an absolutely astounding free kick. It was a good 25 metres out, but bent out and back in at just the right moment to fly into the near top corner, despite Strakosha getting a fingertip to it.
Mkhitaryan could’ve made it four moments later, his scorcher taking a deflection to thump the crossbar.
Lazio came out fighting after the break, Ciro Immobile’s shot deflected wide by Roger Ibanez, while Gianluca Mancini was booked for an elbow on Luis Alberto.
Abraham should’ve made it a hat-trick on 66 minutes when chesting down a Bryan Cristante ball over the top and getting away from two defenders, but he fired wide one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Immobile forced a save from Rui Patricio, but Manuel Lazzari was already offside on the assist, and Pedro’s effort was straight at the goalkeeper.
Roma 3-0 Lazio
Abraham 1, 22 (R), Pellegrini 40 (R)