Lazio, Roma share derby spoils as Como prevail over Torino

Lazio and Roma failed to land a blow in the race for Champions League football as the capital city rivals played out a tense 1-1 draw on Sunday.

Matias Soule earned Roma a point with a sensational first time strike in the 69th minute at a packed and loud Stadio Olimpico where Lazio failed to capitalise on their dominance.

Marco Baroni’s side stay sixth, three points behind fourth-placed Juventus in a tight top-four battle which could go down to the final day of the season.

The derby draw and Fiorentina only managing a goalless stalemate with Parma made it a perfect day for third-placed Atalanta who beat rivals Bologna 2-0 in the early fixture.

“It’s a shame because the boys gave everything and they created a chances. These are the sorts of matches where you need a bit of luck,” said Baroni to DAZN.

“On the balance of play we deserved to win but we’ll take the point.”

Rome derby may return to afternoon kickoffs next season after Sunday’s night fixture descended into what Italian media termed “urban guerrilla warfare” that left 13 police officers injured in clashes between rival fan groups.

“It is easy to predict that next year will be back in the light of day,” authorities said, following the violent scenes that unfolded around the Stadio Olimpico hours before Lazio hosted Roma, Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport reported.

Police successfully prevented direct confrontation between the groups but faced a barrage of projectiles for their efforts.

Lazio looked set to secure local bragging rights and close in on the top four when lifelong fan Alessio Romagnoli thumped home a perfect header two minutes after half-time.

They had created the majority of chances up to that point and were only denied the lead early on by some spectacular goalkeeping from Mile Svilar.

Soule punished nominal hosts Lazio when he strode onto Alexis Saelemaekers’ pass and from well outside the penalty area let rip with a curling strike which snuck behind the line via the crossbar.

Argentinian Soule’s fourth goal of the season saved Roma but the draw ended Claudio Ranieri’s perfect Rome derby record as coach and left his team five points behind Juve. It is to Ranieri’s credit however that Roma are only two points away from Lazio as that gap was 12 when he took charge for the third time in his long managerial career back in November.

Ranieri, 73, will retire for the second time at the end of this season before taking up what sporting director Florent Ghisolfi called a “sporting consultant” role with the club.

“I would have liked to have closed my career with another derby win, but that’s football: you get good things and not so good things and you have to learn to accept both,” said Ranieri.

Fiorentina and Parma played out a 0-0 stalemate, as did Hellas Verona and Genoa, with neither side able to find a breakthrough.

Como claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Torino, courtesy of a well-placed first-half header from Anastasios Douvikas.

Gasperini satisfied with Atalanta’s winning comeback: A return to winning ways after three straight losses was a relief for Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini and big boost in their race to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top four finish in Serie A. Sunday’s 2-0 win over fifth-placed Bologna saw Atalanta climb to third, two points ahead of fourth-placed Juventus, with six matches left in the campaign.

“When you win games of this calibre, it feels like it is worth double for the table,” Gasperini told DAZN.

“We are satisfied... when you score that early, it puts you in a position to control the match.”

Gasperini praised striker Mateo Retegui, who scored three minutes into the game and assisted in Mario Pasalic’s goal to steer Atalanta to victory.

Grosso’s Sassuolo return to Serie A: Sassuolo returned to Serie A after a season away on Sunday as results elsewhere mathematically ensured promotion for the team managed by World Cup winner Fabio Grosso.

With five matches remaining in the season Serie B leaders Sassuolo are 16 points ahead of third-placed Spezia, who were held to a 2-2 draw by Mantova on Sunday.

Sassuolo beat local rivals Modena 3-1 on Saturday to set up the possibility of promotion.

Agencies