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LAZIO VS ROMA: THE ETERNAL  

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This weekend sees a feast of marquee matches across the European leagues, with standout 06/12
fixtures pitting Manchester City against Chelsea, Barcelona against Real Madrid and Borussia
Dortmund against Borussia Monchengladbach, to name but three. However, the latest Kitbag
blog sees our attention switch to Italy, where SS Lazio and AS Roma will contest the season’s
first Derby della Capitale at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. The biennial fixture in the capital
city has been a staple of the ground since 1953, providing a worthy platform for many of the
game’s greatest stars. As Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio team and Luciano Spalletti’s Roma prepare
to go again, Kitbag is proud to present six of the best Rome derbies from the modern era. THE STATS
1992     LAZIO 1 ROMA 1 POPULAR COMMENTS TAGS

With Paul Gascoigne’s 1991 transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Lazio stirring British interest
in Italy’s national league, the launch of Channel 4′s Football Italia series in 1992 was timely LATEST POSTS
to say the least; bringing Serie A’s biggest matches live and direct to the UK on a weekly
basis. At the tail end of recovery from a 16‐month injury lay‐off, Gascogine had been absent
from the programme’s 6th September launch (a 3‐3 draw between his Lazio side and visitors
Sampdoria), making his bow a fortnight later, on what was billed as ‘Gazza Speciale Day’.
However, the England World Cup star would truly arrive on the Italian scene in his maiden
Derby della Capitale; netting a dramatic headed equaliser in the 86th minute and celebrating
passionately behind the Roma goal. Gazza’s time in Serie A would have its peaks and troughs.
However, few in attendance or watching on TV could forget 29th November 1992, as this
enduring character of the beautiful game made his first indelible mark in the Eternal City.

1994     LAZIO 1 ROMA 0

A classic cast of characters took to the Stadio Olimpico stage on 6th March 1994 for a hard‐
fought, albeit low‐scoring affair, as was consistent with the division’s watertight defences of
the time. Despite losing goalscorer Claudio Caniggia to a doping ban, Roma’s squad of 1994
was spearheaded by another Argentinian attacker in Abel Balbo, supported by the likes of
Brazil’s Aldair (a World Cup winner months later) and emerging talent Francesco Totti. Lazio
meanwhile were able to call upon Serie A luminaries Giuseppe Signori, Pierluigi Casiraghi and
Roberto Di Matteo, as well as Croatia’s Alen Bokšić and Dutchman Aron Winter. On the day, it
was Signori who provided the difference, scoring what proved to be the winner in only the
sixth minute of play. The 1‐0 victory was Lazio’s first of the 1990s, snapping a streak of seven
successive draws in the derby and keeping their rivals out of the ensuing season’s UEFA Cup.
1998     LAZIO 3 ROMA 3
Lazio had beaten their Rome rivals four times on the bounce when the two sides locked horns
on 29th November 1998. What resulted that day was one of the most entertaining Derby della
Capitale fixtures in memory, as Sven‐Göran Eriksson’s title‐chasers came from a goal adrfit to
amass a 3‐1 lead, only for Zdeněk Zeman’s resilient Roma to mount a stirring comeback. The
Giallorossi had started strongly, creating a number of chances before Marco Delvecchio got on
the end of a dangerous through ball to dot the first ink on the scoresheet. Roma’s advantage
would last barely three minutes, as future Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini connected
with the equaliser, before a purple period around the hour mark established the home side’s
advantage. First, Mancini showed sizable skill and awareness to flick home a Siniša Mihajlović
free‐kick. Then, Marcello Salas joined the party, converting from the penalty spot. However,
Roman retribution would be forthcoming, with Roma hitting back through (current Sassuolo
boss) Eusebio Di Francesco and the ever‐invaluable Totti to restore parity. Fuelling the drama
even further, Roma would only be denied a stunning victory by the linesman’s offside flag.

1999     ROMA 3 LAZIO 1

With the Stadio Olimpico’s six‐goal thriller still fresh in mind, Roma’s first Derby della
Capitale victory in almost five years (and their first ‘home’ win for over two decades) would
go on to have grave implications for their opponents’ title challenge. Leaders Lazio entered
11th April 1999 in hot pursuit of the Scudetto and victory in this derby would have extended
their lead over Milan to seven points, with six games to play. Instead, Roma upset the form
book emphatically, thanks in no small part to Delvecchio’s first‐half brace. The opener was
particularly stunning, as the forward eluded his man with fine footwork, before firing into the
roof of the net. While Christian Vieri’s tap‐in kept Lazio in the hunt, the final minute then
saw Totti bundle home Roma’s controversial and decisive third goal; shrugging off cries of
handball to condemn the Biancocelesti to a devastating derby defeat. With Milan winning all
of their final six fixtures, Lazio would miss out on Serie A honours by a single, agonising point.
2002     LAZIO 1 ROMA 5
10th March 2002 saw rampant Roma romp to their biggest Derby della Capitale win in a
generation, and the biggest in their history as the fixture’s ‘visiting’ team. Inspired by
midfielder Totti, striker Vincenzo Montella was the star of the show, helping himself to a
record‐breaking four goals in a Stadio Olimpico derby, a feat without equal before or since.
Tormenting the great Alessandro Nesta with a standout striking performance, Montella edged
in front of his Italy teammate to nod in the Roma opener, before capitalising on a rebound
from Totti’s inquisitive effort to double the Giallorossi’s advantage. Heading home in the 37th
minute to complete his first‐half hat‐trick, Montella made history in the second half by way of
his famous fourth, a powerful blast from distance that cannoned into the top corner. The
final word however on this dream day for Roma belonged to talisman Totti, who lifted a
sublime chip over Lazio goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi to wrap up their landmark 5‐1 win.

2005      LAZIO 3 ROMA 1

Finally, the mid‐2000s was a volatile period in the Derby della Capitale annals, with Lazio vs
Roma on 6th January 2005 typical of this tumultuous time. Less than 12 months earlier, an
infamous encounter between the rivals had been abandoned due to rioting and this 2005
rematch was similarly explosive, as the worst of Roman derby passions spilled over. Embroiled
in a bitter spat with proud Roma clubman Totti, Lazio’s Paulo di Canio courted significant
controversy in the run‐up to this fixture, yet the Italian’s talents on the field were never in
dispute; affirmed by the former West Ham United and Charlton Athletic maverick’s sublime
right‐footed volley that broke the deadlock. While Roma responded through Antonio Cassano,
a smart second‐half strike from Cesar helped the brilliant Biancocelesti reign in Rome for the
first time in almost five years; Tommaso Rocchi’s tap‐in sealing their 3‐1 derby day triumph.
With a kaleidoscope of colour enveloping the stands and a lifetime of competition fuelling the
on‐pitch passion, all eyes will be on the Stadio Olimpico this weekend, but where will the
Roman bragging rights lie come Sunday evening? The scene is set; let the games begin. AC
 PHOTOGRAPHY
1992 by Action Images
1998 by Stuart Franklin, Action Images
1999 by Alex Morton, Action Images
2002 by Michael Regan, Action Images
2005 by Michael Regan, Action Images
Flags by Michael Regan, Action Images

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