Roma took a huge step towards Champions League football after beating rivals Lazio with a Gianluca Mancini brace, though both sides had players sent off for a brawl.
Scheduling this match was chaos due to security fears and the Italian Open tennis final in the same complex as the Stadio Olimpico, so it was moved to an unusual midday local time start. Manu Koné had a muscular problem in training, with Lorenzo Pellegrini, Artem Dovbyk, Evan Ferguson and Bryan Zaragoza also struggling.
ROME, ITALY – MAY 17: SS Lazio head coach Maurizio Sarri and AS Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini react during the Serie A match between AS Roma and SS Lazio at Stadio Olimpico on May 17, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Lazio were fresh off Wednesday’s Coppa Italia Final defeat to Inter, but then lost Mattia Zaccagni and Edoardo Motta to injury, so with Ivan Provedel already out, gave third-choice goalkeeper Alessio Furlanetto his debut. Alessio Romagnoli sat out a ban, with Patric and Samuel Gigot not fully fit.
Lazio ultras again boycotted the home game in protest at President Claudio Lotito, leaving only a banner in the Curva Nord that read: ‘Dignity and respect are worth more than a derby.’
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
ROME, ITALY – MAY 17: Boulaye Dia of SS Lazio competes for the ball with AS Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar during the Serie A match between AS Roma and SS Lazio at Stadio Olimpico on May 17, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
The first save of Furlanetto’s Serie A career was to prevent a Nuno Tavares own goal, the defender anticipating Donyell Malen on Niccolò Pisilli’s free kick, then smothered Wesley’s deflected effort on the following corner.
Matteo Cancellieri’s attempt was straight at Mile Svilar, then Boulaye Dia had the ball in the net on 29 minutes, but only after wandering offside and then fouling the goalkeeper.
Mario Gila nodded just wide of the near post on a corner, then Tijjani Noslin’s angled drive flashed just wide of the far post.
Evan Ndicka hurt his thigh in that move and limped off, replaced by Devyne Rensch with Zeki Celik moving into the back three.
Roma took the lead soon after, as Gianluca Mancini was stronger in the crowd to nod in a Pisilli corner from six yards.
ROME, ITALY – MAY 17: Gianluca Mancini of AS Roma celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and SS Lazio at Stadio Olimpico on May 17, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
A scuffle broke out moments later between Mario Hermoso and Cancellieri, then Hermoso’s volley hit the side-netting.
Zeki Celik had penalty appeals waved away when Nicolò Rovella went to clear the ball and caught him instead, then Furlanetto made a great save on Donyell Malen after a give and go with Dybala.
Furlanetto fingertipped a wonderful Dybala free kick over the bar, and on the resulting corner, Mancini was again allowed to nod in the Dybala set play for 2-0.
The temperature was rising and a brawl erupted, with both Rovella and Wesley sent off their part in the battle.
ROME, ITALY – MAY 17: SS Lazio and AS Roma players fight during the Serie A match between AS Roma and SS Lazio at Stadio Olimpico on May 17, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Dybala squirmed away from Oliver Provstgaard only for Celik to drill wide, while Gustav Isaksen went down too easily under pressure from Mancini.
Artem Dovbyk returned to the field after four months and almost scored within minutes, his scuffed finish bouncing off the inside of the far post.
Roma kept pushing, as Stephan El Shaarawy drilled just wide from a very promising position, then Furlanetto palmed away the Matias Soule scorcher.
Roma 2-0 Lazio
Mancini 40, 66 (R)
Sent off: Rovella 70 (L), Wesley 70 (R)
