Derby triumph is resurgent Lazio's latest accomplishment under Simone Inzaghi

Lazio continued its resurgence under Simone Inzaghi, winning the capital derby against Roma.

Ben Lyttleton | May 1, 2017

Derby triumph is resurgent Lazio's latest accomplishment under Simone Inzaghi /

Lazio won its first Derby della Capitale–the Roman derby–in Serie A in over four years Sunday, deservedly beating Roma 3-1 despite losing 20-goal top scorer Ciro Immobile in the pre-match warmup. Striker Keita Balde Diao followed up his five-minute hat trick last week against Palermo with two more in this game, as Lazio moved up to fourth place in Serie A.

Lazio is seven points behind third-place Napoli, but that it is even in contention for European competition is down to coach Simone Inzaghi, who took over just over a year ago with the team in mid-table and relations between the club and its fans at a low. Inzaghi had served his apprenticeship, with six years as a youth coach in which Lazio won the Youth Cup two years running.

That cup form has continued, with Lazio facing an end-of-season Coppa Italia final date against Juventus, after beating Roma 4-3 on aggregate in the semifinal.

Top 10 club rivalries in world soccer

10. Soweto Derby: Orlando Pirates vs. Kaizer Chiefs

Shiraaz Mohamed/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

The Soweto Derby is a way of life in Johannesburg, with crowds that exceed typical league crowds by several degrees of magnitude.

9. Cascadia Cup: Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers

Don't let anyone tell you Sounders-Timbers isn't one of the great global club rivalries. These two cities live and breathe soccer, have had their clubs' battle span multiple leagues, and the antipathy is real.

8. Fla-Flu: Flamengo vs. Fluminense

The Fla-Flu game in Rio de Janeiro is Brazil's great historical rivalry. No fewer than 194,000 fans attended this game at the Maracanã in 1963.

7. North London Derby: Arsenal vs. Tottenham

The North London Derby has gotten even more intense as Spurs has improved over the years, though Arsenal (for now) still carries its 21-year streak of finishing ahead of Tottenham in the table.

6. North-West Derby: Manchester United vs. Liverpool

The two most successful clubs in England historically (20 championships for Manchester United; 18 for Liverpool) also have one of the most bitter rivalries.

5. Clasico Nacional: Chivas de Guadalajara vs. Club America

Mexico's two most popular teams have a rivalry that pits Guadalajara against Mexico City and a team of players with only Mexican heritage (Chivas) against a team known for buying non-Mexican stars (América).

4. Derby della Capitale: Roma vs. Lazio

The Derby della Capitale is the most intense city rivalry in Italy, a fight for bragging rights in the Eternal City.

3. Superclasico: Boca Juniors vs. River Plate

The two Argentine giants of Buenos Aires may have the world's most passionate fanbases. I went to the SuperClásico in '95 and stood with the Boca hardcores. When Boca scored, a sea of humanity carried me three rows below.

2. Old Firm: Celtic vs. Rangers

The divide between Catholics (Celtic) and Protestants (Rangers) through sports in Glasgow. I once wore all-black to this game in '99 and got yelled at for not picking a side.

1. El Clasico: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid

The two best teams in Spain also have a long history as sporting proxies of Castilian Spain and Catalonia. Given the enmity in El Clásico, it's a wonder that the Spanish national team hasn't been more dysfunctional.

“We had the right spirit and we won very deservedly,” said Inzaghi. “Winning a derby after so many problems gives great belief for the last five matches of the season. If I think about where we started, it has been a real improvement.”

Keita Balde put Lazio ahead but it was pinned back by a Daniele de Rossi penalty–for a non-existent foul–just before the break. Dusan Basta extended Lazio’s lead before its in-form Senegalese forward sealed the victory.

Inzaghi’s progress has been noted elsewhere. Italian press reported that West Ham might offer him the coach’s job there next season–and he would be crazy to take it. Lazio and the progress he has made point to exciting times for the capital side in the future and the likelihood of European matches for years to come.

Published May 1, 2017

BEN LYTTLETON

A journalist, broadcaster and consultant, Ben Lyttleton also wrote the book on PKs with his “Twelve Yards: The Art and Psychology of the Penalty Kick.”