Match Report – Lazio V AS Roma – 13th April 2025
On 14 April 2025 by Gillyowl
Lazio 1 – 1 AS Roma
In a thrilling showdown at the Stadio Olimpico, Matias Soulé brought the crowd to their feet with a sensational equalizer, volleying a stunning strike off the underside of the bar to cancel out Alessio Romagnoli’s opener. The Derby della Capitale ended in a 1-1 stalemate, leaving both Lazio and Roma with a lot to ponder as they jostle for European spots.
This match was about more than just pride; it was a crucial contest in the race for Europe, especially in light of the weekend’s other results. The Aquile, seeking to regain their form after a tough 2-0 defeat to Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League quarter-finals, welcomed back Taty Castellanos from injury and had Matteo Guendouzi returning from suspension. However, they missed key players like Nuno Tavares, Patric, and Arijon Ibrahimovic.
On the other side, the Giallorossi were looking to bounce back after their impressive seven-match Serie A winning streak was halted by a 1-1 draw against Juventus. They celebrated the return of Alexis Saelemaekers, yet they continued to face challenges with Paulo Dybala and Saud Abdulhamid sidelined due to injuries.
As the dust settled on this fiercely contested derby, both teams found themselves reflecting on what could have been. For the fans, however, the intensity of the rivalry—a vibrant tapestry woven from passion and spirited play—continues to fuel anticipation for the next chapter in this storied matchup.
It was an electrifying beginning to the match, with Mile Svilar showcasing his skills early on by fingertipping an Alessio Romagnoli header away from danger, following a beautifully delivered free kick from Gustav Isaksen. The Roma goalkeeper was called into action again soon after, making a stunning stop at the near post after Isaksen darted through the defense with a dazzling run.
Despite the Giallorossi enjoying long moments of possession, it was Lazio who remained the more threatening side. Svilar was at his best, notably pushing Isaksen’s lovely curling shot with his left foot away from the far top corner, keeping Roma in the hunt. What a thrilling contest it was, full of intensity and excitement for both sets of fans!
The deadlock was joyfully shattered right after the restart, as two lifelong Lazio fans teamed up for a brilliant moment. Luca Pellegrini sent a perfectly placed free kick across the six-yard box, where Alessio Romagnoli met it with a textbook header, finally getting the better of Svilar at the near post. With passion in his heart, Romagnoli dashed to celebrate under the Curva Nord, lovingly kissing the club badge on his jersey as the fans roared with pride.
Roma quickly began to build their momentum, and it wasn’t long before they created their first real scoring opportunity. Gianluca Mancini showcased his skills with an impressive header from a Lorenzo Pellegrini corner kick, but Christos Mandas was quick to react, just managing to claw it out from the far bottom corner.
The Aquile continued to press, with Svilar having to stretch to get his fingertips to a glancing header from Matteo Guendouzi off Isaksen’s free kick. Zeki Celik also tried his luck, but his strike from the edge of the box was straight at Mandas, who made the save look easy.
There was a tense moment when a trademark curler from Mattia Zaccagni zipped just wide of the far post, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. But then, in a moment of pure magic, Roma found their equalizer. Soulé unleashed a sensational first-time left-foot strike from well outside the box that hit the underside of the bar and, without a moment’s doubt, goal-line technology confirmed it had crossed the line completely. The stadium erupted in cheers!
Pedro, who came off the bench to face his former club, tested Svilar with a fierce strike from the edge of the area. Svilar then had to show his skills again, making a remarkable double save to deny both Evan N’Dicka’s attempted own goal and Boulaye Dia from capitalizing on the loose ball.
In a thrilling finish, Tijjani Noslin came agonizingly close in stoppage time, trying to bundle a corner over the line but mistiming his leap. The excitement was palpable as both teams battled fiercely for every inch on the pitch, leaving fans from both sides buzzing with anticipation for what was to come!
