Roma vs Lazio: 6 Classic Derby Della Capitale Clashes

Since 1927, no derby in Italy has come close to touching the Derby della Capitale between Lazio and Roma.

The pure hatred between these two sets of fans is unrivalled, while violence and neo-fascist ideologies have often overshadowed on-field events. 

But down the years we've seen some thrilling contests in this fixture and while the result of the derby is often irrelevant in the Scudetto race at the top, its significance in Italy's capital is massive. It's not just about local bragging rights for fans, it's about fighting for the right to represent the city against the rest of the country.

So, here are some of the finest Derby della Capitale clashes to look back on...

Lazio 3-3 Roma (1998)

The start of the 1998/99 campaign marked the beginning of three years of incredible success for Lazio, as world-record signing Christian Vieiri teamed up with the equally prolific Marcelo Salas up top while Alessandro Nesta held the fort at the back and Pavel Nedved created mischief down the left.

But after a woeful start to the campaign, Roma came into this November clash above their big-spending rivals in the Serie A table.

And when Marco Delvecchio put I Giallorossi into a 25th-minute lead, things looked to be getting bleaker for Sven-Goran Eriksson's side. But goals either side of half time from Roberto Mancini lifted Lazio into a 2-1 lead before Salas made it three from the spot as they looked poised to make it five derby victories on the bounce. 

A late show from Roma, however, saw the game finish all-square at 3-3 in what was a mightily entertaining contest at the Olimpico. Eusebio Di Francesco and, of course, Francesco Totti scored in the final 15 minutes for the great Zdeněk Zeman's side.

Roma 3-1 Lazio (1999)

The two sides would meet in another classic later that season. Lazio were enjoying a 16-game unbeaten streak in Serie A and a first Scudetto since 1952 was in touching distance – but against the imperious force of I Biancocelesti, it would be Roma who won their first derby since 1994.

Il Capitano Totti and top scorer Delvecchio combined twice in the first half to give I Giallorossi a 2-0 lead as Zeman's attacking 4-3-3 overwhelmed Lazio.

A frustrated Vieri would pull one back with just over ten minutes to go but Totti, with the contest now a ten against nine(!!!) encounter in Roma's favour, put the result beyond doubt with a scrappy finish in added time.

The result severely hampered Eriksson's side in the title race, and they'd go on to lose 3-1 at home Juventus the following week while a peaking Milan side won their final seven games, handing Alberto Zaccheroni and his unorthodox 3-4-3 the Scudetto against the odds. 

Lazio 1-5 Roma (2002)

Fresh off back-to-back Scudetto triumphs in Rome (Lazio in 2000, Roma in 2001) this 5-1 mauling of their intra-city rivals lives fondly in the memories of the Curva Sud.

Despite Vincenzo Montella becoming the only player in history to score four times in a single Rome derby, it was Totti who stole the show with a performance of the highest degree.

This was still a Lazio side that had Hernan Crespo leading the line and Angelo Peruzzi's goal protected by Nesta and Sinisa Mihajlovic, but they were no match for the Eighth King of Rome as he played a major role in four of his side's goals, scoring the fifth with a type of strike that only players with outer-worldly talents could conjure in the heat of a derby.

Only a consolation Dejan Stankovic strike stopped Roma from equalling their biggest win against Lazio in 89 years on that day in 2002.

Lazio 4-2 Roma (2009)

While this April encounter had little impact on the league table in 2008/09, it was nonetheless one of the highest scoring games in Derby della Capitale history.

A quick-fire brace from future West Ham and Watford icon Mauro Zarate saw the 'home' side race into a 2-0 lead after five minutes before Phillipe Mexes swiftly halved the deficit.

Lazio would extend their lead once more through the unlikely source of Stephan Lichtsteiner before Matuzalem, Mexes and Christian Panucci were all given their marching orders by referee Emidio Morganti.

Despite the man deficit, the visitors would pull another goal back through Romanista Daniele De Rossi - who looped his header over Juan Pablo Carrizo. Marauding left-back Aleksandar Kolarov, however, put things beyond doubt for the Biancocelesti as his dragged right-footed effort rolled past Doni to make it 4-2.

Roma 0-1 Lazio (2013)

This wasn't the greatest of spectacles, but it was arguably the most significant contest in the derby's history. It's the only ever game between the two which has had silverware on the line, on this occasion: the Coppa Italia.

Roma had topped Atalanta, Fiorentina and Inter to make it to their 17th Coppa Italia final, while Lazio had overcome Siena, Catania and Juventus to reach their seventh. 

A Roma side containing the likes of Michael Bradley and Erik Lamela were arguably superior throughout, but it'd be I Biancocelesti who'd go on to claim their sixth Coppa Italia crown after Antonio Candreva's driven cross from the right was parried by Bogdan Labont in between the Roma sticks and into the path of wide midfielder Senad Lulic, who tapped home with 20 minutes to go.

Roma 2-2 Lazio (2015)

The arrogance, the audacity, but who cared? It was Francesco Totti: the king of the Derby della Capitale.

After Stefano Mauri and Felipe Anderson had given Lazio a 2-0 lead before the half-hour mark, Roma's 'Golden Boy' – now in his late 30s – stepped up to the plate in the second period.

He reduced the arrears with a fine angled strike three minutes after the restart, before bagging a close-range equaliser, which he rounded off with something that only he could get away with on such an occasion; taking a selfie with a raucous Curva Sud.

Iconic.