Rome enjoys, Lazio sinks. No surprises from the Capital derby, conquered, unlike what happened on other occasions, by the strongest team. Spalletti's giallorossi are too superior compared to Pioli's biancocelesti, to whom the defeat cost dearly: Lotito has decided to exempt him and entrust the technical guide to Simone Inzaghi, until yesterday in command of the Primavera. A decision that surprises up to a certain point: Pioli had been living in the balance for some time and a derby lost so badly could only give him the coup de grace.
“I can only take responsibility for such a negative season – commented the person concerned shortly before his dismissal. – Some decisions are not up to me, in any case I think that when things go wrong there isn't just one person responsible”. Evidently, however, the club, highly contested by its fans (about 400 went to Formello provoking clashes with the police, 15 arrested), saw it differently and opted for a turnaround, in an attempt to close a situation with dignity bankruptcy season.
Unbalanced match it seemed and unbalanced match it was. Roma played a good chunk of the Champions League, Lazio "only" the face: the comparison seemed to be unequal and this proved to be the case on the lawn of a half-empty Olympic stadium, for once not up to the show. Great party at the Giallorossi, so much so that by now, rather than looking at third place (they are 7 points ahead of Fiorentina, 8 ahead of Inter), we are even thinking about second place: Napoli are 4 points away, not too many considering that, the next April 25, there will be direct confrontation in the capital.
“We have the potential to try – confirmed Spalletti. – I think we couldn't do more than that, we're doing a great job both technically and mentally. Winning a derby is never easy, we have shown that we are much more of a team than Lazio". Yesterday's 4-1 is the flagship of a spectacular ride (9 wins and 1 draw in the last 10 games), so much so that many wonder where Roma would be if they had sacked Garcia a couple of weeks earlier.
Effects of a beautiful derby, played openly from the start. Roma unlocked it after just a quarter of an hour with El Shaarawy, good at exploiting the hole of the "awarded couple" Hoedt-Bisevac and killing Marchetti with a precise and angled header. The Giallorossi mastered the pitch until halfway through the second half, so much so that Dzeko's double (who came on a few minutes earlier) was only a logical consequence (64').
Aiming for pride and morale, Lazio had a jolt: first the Hoedt-Parolo double crossbar, then the goal by the same midfielder following an assist from Klose (75'). It seemed like the prelude to a thrilling ending, but Roma put things right. In the 83rd minute Florenzi caught the joker with a great right-footed volley from outside the box, 4' later Perotti put in the exclamation point with a splendid shot from around the corner. The Giallorossi Rome celebrates, the Biancoceleste cries: the scenario of the eve, for once, has turned into reality.
