Lazio and Roma responded from differing European fortunes in midweek by playing out a goalless draw in the Rome derby.
Lazio suffered a woeful 4-1 Europa League defeat which saw them crash out to Red Bull Salzburg 48 hours after Roma produced a brilliant comeback to knock Barcelona out of the Champions League.
There was nothing to separate them in a tense derby, despite a late red card for Lazio’s Stefan Radu, at the Stadio Olimpico as both teams moved to 61 points with Lazio ahead of their neighbours in the Serie A table on goal difference.
There was always a danger that Roma might have a hangover after their unbelievable effort to usurp Barca and Lazio had a golden chance to go ahead early on.
Some slack defending allowed Marco Parolo to sneak in, but he smashed a first-time effort well over the crossbar in the seventh minute.
It was the Giallorossi who had the best chance of the first half as Bruno Peres found time and space in the area, but his low shot across goal hit the post and went to safety.
Neither side took the game by the scruff of the neck and they traded opportunities throughout the second period.
Edin Dzeko fired over from 20 yards for Roma while 27-goal striker Ciro Immobile rolled an effort just wide from a tight angle at the other end in the 65th minute.
Lazio were forced to play the final 12 minutes with 10 men after Radu was shown a second yellow card for a cynical foul on Cengiz Under, but the hosts were inches away from taking the lead moments later.
Lucas Leiva knocked the ball down and Adam Marusic seemed prime to score until Stephan El Shaarawy’s tackle deflected it wide.
In the end Lazio were lucky to take anything from the game as Roma almost won it in time added on as Dzeko twice came close.
First the former Manchester City forward saw a header brilliantly saved by Thomas Strakosha and then from a cross from the other side he sent another header crashing into the crossbar.
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