A Rome derby on the penultimate weekend of a Serie A season could never be a low stakes occasion. Scudetto wins come rarely in Italy. �s capital city...
A Rome derby on the penultimate weekend of a Serie A season could never be a low stakes occasion. Scudetto wins come rarely in Italy. �s capital city with Roma and Lazio having only five between them. This leaves neighbourly bragging rights as the next most important prize on offer. It is an intense and bitter rivalry that has produced countless iconic moments from Francesco Totti taking selfies under the Curva to a cup winning goal by Senad Lulic. Sadly it has also produced many violent clashes between supporters. As reported exclusively by GoalZaza, this particular derby mattered more because both sides had tangible objectives left to play for. As recently as late April that did not appear very likely. Roma were sixth and five points adrift of the Champions League places while Lazio were ninth. But then the Giallorossi got on a roll just as Milan and Juventus started dropping points. At the end of the day a win in the derby would propel them into the top four if either of those sides slipped up again. The lion. �s share of the credit for this resurrection goes to cult hero Gianluca Mancini who delivered a two goal performance that has put his side on the verge of a historic return to Europe. �s elite club competition. In the scheme of things the powers that be at the Serie A scheduling office had created a nightmare scenario by placing this clash so late in the campaign. Yet Mancini rose to the occasion with the clinical finishing of a seasoned striker. He was a stalwart at the back and a formidable presence in the opposition box. His resilience inspired his teammates to give a good account of themselves in the face of fierce pressure from Lazio. The Nigerian international Victor Osimhen watching from Naples must have taken note as he prepares his own push for continental honours. The Super Eagles talisman knows that such derby heroics are the stuff of legend in Italian football. At the viewing centres in Surulere and the touted spots in Ikeja the atmosphere was electric. Fans clad in Roma jerseys stood shoulder to shoulder with those who had a soft spot for the Giallorossi. �s fighting spirit. When Mancini rose highest to meet a corner kick in the second half the roar from the crowd in Lagos was enough to shake the aluminium roofing of the local bars. Men in agbada and youths in crisp football kits alike jumped to their feet spilling their drinks in the process. They knew they had witnessed a moment of high drama. For these fans the cost of a ticket in Naira at the local viewing centre was worth every kobo as they celebrated a victory that could be worth millions to the Roman club in Champions League revenue. The dream is alive and it is powered by a cult hero who has etched his name into derby folklore.
