Roma win first post-Totti derby
AS Roma won the first derby since the retirement of their talismanic playmaker Francesco Totti when Radja Nainggolan’s goal gave them a 2-1 win over Lazio on Saturday.
Both sides scored from penalties with Diego Perotti converting for Roma and Ciro Immobile for Lazio, his 15th league goal of the season.
The result ended Lazio’s run of nine successive wins in all competitions while Roma clocked up their sixth win in a row.
It also enabled Roma to move above Lazio to third in Serie A with 30 points from 12 games, two ahead of their neighbors.
Totti, who retired last season after 25 years with Roma which included a record 44 derby appearances, watched from the stands.
After a goalless first half, Roma quickly took control as Perotti and Nainggolan scored in a four-minute spell.
Perotti converted a penalty after Lazio defender Bastos tripped Aleksandar Kolarov, then Nainggolan scored with a low diagonal shot from outside the box.
Roma needlessly conceded a penalty when Kostas Manolas, under no pressure in the area, tried to cushion a cross on his chest but the ball hit his upper arm.
After consulting the video assistant referee (VAR), the referee pointed to the spot and Immobile smashed the ball home in the 72nd minute.