This coming week Lazio host the Giallorossi in a huge Rome derby with Champions League football on the line. The game, however, is not the most important derby that has been played out in recent years.
When Roma and Lazio take to the field on Monday it will almost be two years to the day since the most important fixture in the history of the rivalry.
It was the 158th meeting between the two capital clubs, but this game was different. For the first time in the history of the derby, Roma and Lazio played against each other with a trophy up for grabs. The match was played at the iconic Stadio Olimpico, the stadium in Rome which both teams share.
The game had even more significance as both teams had endured disappointing campaigns. Roma had brought back attacking manager Zdenek Zeman. After losing in a Europa League qualification match to Slovan Bratislava and with a poor record in Serie A, Zeman was sacked in February. Caretaker manager Aurelio Andreazzoli took over but could only guide Roma to sixth. This meant that the side’s only hope of securing European football was through the Coppa Italia final against Lazio.
The Biancoceleste meanwhile had enjoyed a fantastic start to the season. Under new manager Vladimir Petkovic, Lazio had been joint second when Serie A reached its halfway mark. Yet a dramatic collapse in the final months of the season saw them fall to seventh place, one behind their city rivals. Thus, like Roma, Lazio needed the Coppa Italia to qualify for Europe.
The game would thus define both of the team’s seasons. For the winner, European football and the bragging rights for a generation. For the loser, nothing.
The build up was tense. Reports circulated that Lazio players had received death threats and were told their families would be killed if they won the match. On the morning of the match, local police found weapons close to the stadium, including axes. In the league meetings between the two sides, violence had marred the games. Tension was all around the city. It was evident on the pitch too.
Both Lazio and Roma struggled. The first-half was dire. The players seemed to realise how important the game was, they were taken over by fear. The repercussions for defeat were so great that neither team were willing to take any risks.
The second-half was little better. The game seemed destined to go to extra time and possible penalties. Yet one moment changed the entire history of the rivalry between Roma and Lazio.
In the 71st minute, an Antonio Candreva cross was diverted into the path of Senad Lulic who tapped the ball home. The stadium erupted with noise from the curva nord as Lazio fans went wild. There was still nearly a quarter of the game to go. But Roma, as had been the case during the whole game, offered nothing.
On the final whistle, Roma players to a man fell to their knees. They had blown their chance to rewrite the history of the Rome derby and become legends at Roma. Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi, both born and bred in Rome, were in tears. Pablo Osvaldo, a second-half substitute, verbally abused manager Andreazzoli. When the Giallorossi got back to their training ground after the match, they were pelted with rocks and eggs. Andreazzoli was relieved of his duties shortly afterwards. A terrible season had ended with disaster for Roma.
Lazio celebrated. The city of Rome was once again theirs. The team had now won four of the last five Rome derbies. But more importantly, they had won the derby.
Petkovic claimed it as his most important victory as a manger. He was right. It was fitting that Lulic was the player to secure the win. Both had been together in Switzerland when they helped second tier Bellinzona to the Swiss cup final where they lost to Basel. This time they had won the cup and engraved themselves into Lazio folk law.
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By the start of 2014, however, Petkovic had been sacked by Lazio. The Bosnian manager had agreed to become Swiss national coach at the end of 2013, owner Claudio Lotito was furious. Lazio claimed it was a breach of his contract and after a disciplinary procedure, Petkovic was fired. But this takes nothing away from the derby victory with Petkovic at the helm in May 2013, which will always live on for fans of Lazio.
On the 71st minute of the Rome derby this Monday, Lazio fans will cheer and sing about Lulic’s goal in the 2013 Coppa Italia final. Roma will earn the bragging rights if they win the match and even more so if it helps deny their neighbours a place in next season’s Champions League. They will not, however, be able to stamp their mark on the rivalry like Lazio did two years ago.
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