The Derby della Capitale encounter between Lazio and Roma turned chaotic on Wednesday as three players were sent off. Roma’s manager, Jose Mourinho, also received marching orders, and Lazio emerged victorious with a 1-0 win, eliminating their bitter rivals from the Coppa Italia. The lone goal, converted by Mattia Zaccagni, came in the 51st minute through a penalty awarded after a VAR review.
Lazio’s Pedro, a former Roma player, was the first to be sent off at the Stadio Olimpico, receiving a second yellow card in the 96th minute. Roma’s Sardar Azmoun followed suit, dismissed for fouling Lazio’s Nicolo Rovella. Post-match, Roma’s Gianluca Mancini received a red card, and Edoardo Bove was struck on the back with a beer bottle during a substitution.
The Derby della Capitale is renowned as one of the most intense fixtures in European football. Mourinho’s ejection marked his second in four days, having also been sent off in Roma’s 1-1 home draw against Atalanta the previous Sunday. This incident marked the sixth time Mourinho has been dismissed in the last two seasons.
Reflecting on the match, Mourinho expressed disappointment, attributing the penalty to modern football influenced by VAR. The defeat added pressure to Mourinho, whose contract with Roma concludes in June. Despite a challenging season where Roma currently sits eighth in Serie A, they remain only four points behind fourth-placed Fiorentina.
Roma advanced to the Europa League play-off round after finishing second in their group. They will face Feyenoord, whom they defeated in the Europa Conference League final two years ago. Mourinho, a two-time Champions League winner, is expected to leave Roma in 2024, having rejected a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia.
Looking ahead, Lazio awaits the winner between Frosinone and Juventus for a two-legged semi-final in April. The other semi-final will feature Atalanta against Fiorentina. The Coppa Italia final at the Stadio Olimpico is scheduled for May 15.
Roma performance and stats
Roma
Roma is currently 8th in the Serie A with 29 points.
In the last 19 games, it has won 8 times, drawn 5 times, and lost 6 times. In its last match, Roma drawn 1-1 against Atalanta.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 31 goals and conceding 21.
Roma will play the next match in Serie A against Milan on Sunday 14th of January in Milano. The prediction is Milan winning the match.
