But more on that later.
The derby was an intense game, featuring two red cards, a penalty and a bare chested Roman running celebrating fanatically. And all of this occurred in the last few minutes. But what about the tactics of this game? After all, it is hard to not be enthralled by the ensuing action of any derby and neglect the tactics of the game, if there were any.
This game showed how Roma struggle to defend wide players, but also how big players who regularly fail to show up throughout the season, such as De Rossi and Totti, never forget to perform for the big derby.
Starting Line Ups:
Roma:
29 - Nicolás Burdisso
5 - Phillipe Mexes
4 - Juan
17 - John Arne Riise
7 - David Pizarro
16 - Daniele De Rossi
94 - Jérémy Menez
20 - Simone Perrotta
9 - Mirko Vučinić
10 - Francesco Totti
Under Ranieri, Roma played like many Italian teams and rarely strayed from their tried and tested 4-3-1-2. Vicenzo Montella, however, has brought a sense of upheaval in a tactical sense, introducing a 4-2-3-1, similar in fact to the 'strikerless' formation Montella played under with Luciano Spalletti at the helm.
Totti didn't play as far forward as a normal striker, but he definitely did not play as an Trequartista. Vučinić played to the left of Totti, moving around the area between him and the touchline.
On the opposite flank, however, Menez had much more of a free role. At the beginning of the game, Menez kept to the right flank, contrary to how he normally plays for Roma. This made Menez ineffective as he works best when cutting in and playing on the right flank, he would cut into on his weaker, left foot. Later on though, he would start to buzz between the flanks as if he were a bee hesitating over which flank he would call his hive.
Marco Borriello was kept on the bench, possibly a reaction by Montella over his hysterical actions against Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek, after he took a penalty, against his manager's orders, and missed it.
Burdisso was effectively a centre back playing wide on the ride and hence didn't provide enough attacking verve down that side. This, however, would work to Roma's advantage.
Lazio:
2 - Stephan Lichtsteiner
13 - Guglielmo Stendardo
20 - Giuseppe Biava
26 - Ştefan Radu
24 - Cristian Ledesma
8 - Hernanes
11 - Matuzalém
77 - Giuseppe Sculli
10 - Mauro Zárate
22 - Sergio Floccari
Lazio played a similar formation to Roma, with three centre midfielders patrolling the ball.
The difference between the two sides, however, was how Lazio used wide players more effectively. Unlike Roma, Lazio played with an out-and-out winger in Sculli and a striker who was much more disciplined in sticking out wide in Zárate.
Lazio also had a target man type player in Floccari, so they were much more enthusiastic in sending the ball up forward.
Ledesma was the enforcer in midfield, with the Brazillian duo of Matuzalém and Hernanes spreading the ball out wide. Lichsteiner provided a lot of effort going forward, but without much product.
Opening Minutes: Threats from Deep
For a Serie A match, the game started with a lot of enthusiasm and fast paced balls; the players being urged on by the loud fans. Lazio had the first chance of the game when Matuzalém fired a long range shot wide after the ball fell to him kindly after a number of deflections from a corner. One minute later on, however, Matuzalém was outdone by Pizarro, who after receiving a pass from De Rossi 35 yards out, controlled the ball and fizzed an unstoppable shot onto Muslera's crossbar.
After those two long-range strikes, the game slowed down as more and more fouls started building up. Three yellow cards were given out in the first half, showing how much the players abandoned pre-match plans and started playing more sporadically. Hence, the game was slow with many breaks in the play.
During the first half, Roma were more inclined to build the ball up from the back, playing neat balls through the middle. Many times however, they would out do it, playing a wrong pass or miss-control the ball. One of the main reasons why plenty of teams play direct football is because short passing results in more passes being played, and more passes means that there is a greater chance of making a mistake. This was evident by the play Roma were showing as they lost the ball lots of times.
In contrast, Lazio played more directly, bringing the ball up to Floccari to hold up or introducing the ball to one of their wingers. The defensive nature of Burdisso, however, negated the trickery of Zárate on the left, and the first half ended in a stalemate.
Second Half: Lazio Improves
After half time, Lazio started to play better football, out running Roma on the wings. The game opened up and this suited Lazio better as they were the quicker, more mobile team. The biancocelesti also started to cross the ball in more, and Floccari had chances to head the ball in due to Roma's vulnerability out wide.
Roma had their chances as well. By playing little balls in to attack, Juan found himself with the ball after a pull-back by Menez, only to see Ledesma dispossess him by swiping the ball cleanly out under his feet.
Late in the Game: Lots of incidents
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| The notorious green laser |
As the subtitle suggests, the closing stages of the game were full of drama. Roma, apart from the Juan chance, were shut out for most of the second half, mainly through tough defense and Hernanes becoming more influential. On the 70' minute, however, they found themselves with a free kick only twenty yards out. Only one player was ever going to take that strike: Totti. A Roma player through and through, the child of Rome lived for derbies against Lazio. An idol of the Roma supporters, he hated Lazio as much as he loved Roma.
Before he took the kick however, Muslera's eyesight was obstructed. And it wasn't just by the humongous wall Lazio had put up. From the crowd, a Roma fan was shining a green laser into his eyes. Then Totti struck the ball. Bang. The ball swerved through the Lazio wall and under Muslera's body with such force that that alone could have been an excuse for Muslera not saving the ball. But that wasn't it. The laser pen could have disorientated the Uruguayan goalkeeper, as it was in his eyes only shortly before Totti took the free-kick. Furthermore, the Lazio wall was extremely long, so Muslera could only see the ball very late. Either way, Roma were one up.
Only four minutes later, after scrapping for the ball, Matuzalém seemingly stood on Totti's ear. The referee missed it and while Totti was wriggling on the floor, the TV replay supported his claim. Matuzalém had clearly stepped on the side of Totti's face with force. This signaled the start of an ill-tempered finale.
From the 85' minute onwards, Roma were keeping the ball by the corner flag and winning corners repeatedly by striking the ball against Radu's shin to the corner flag. After successive corner's of keeping the ball by the touchline, Totti and Simplicio started to get under the skin of Radu and after a while, the Romanian had enough. He strutted over to the corner flag, where Simplicio was standing, and head butted him on the head. Right in front of the assistant referee. Radu was already heading off the pitch before receiving the red card and Roma had succeeded in their ploy of frustrating the Lazio players. But the drama still wasn't over.
In the 91' minute, Totti played a ball across the penalty area towards the path of the oncoming Simplicio after a fast break. Simplicio, however, was impeded by a nudge by Biava and fell to the ground. The referee pointed to the penalty spot and the Lazio players were in uproar. Cristian Ledesma, in particular, had something to say about the decision, and was promptly sent off after a long string of complaints towards the referee. Lazio were down to nine men, Roma had a penalty and the game was effectively over. That didn't stop Totti from getting a brace by thumping the ball into the roof of the net. Muslera, again, was impeded by a green laser to his face. Nevertheless, Totti galloped over to the Curva Sud, home to the Roma supporters, and started celebrating manically with his shirt off. Seconds later, Totti was substituted and handed a yellow card for his antics. All in a good days work.
