Roma took a massive step towards qualification for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League after defeating fierce rivals Lazio 2-0 in a high-stakes edition of the Derby della Capitale.

With both sides battling for a top-four finish in Serie A, the pressure inside the Stadio Olimpico was immense — but it was Roma who rose to the occasion in emphatic fashion.

Defender Gianluca Mancini proved the unlikely hero of the night, scoring twice to hand the “Giallorossi” a priceless victory that lifts them into fourth place ahead of the final round of the season.

The result means Roma now sit two points clear of both Como and Juventus in the race for a coveted Champions League spot.

Claudio Ranieri’s side will conclude their campaign against already relegated Hellas Verona, a fixture that on paper offers Roma a huge opportunity to secure their return to Europe’s elite competition.

Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk was introduced in the 88th minute, replacing Paulo Dybala, as Roma successfully closed out one of their most important victories of the season.

2025-26, Italy - Serie A

AS Roma - Lazio 2:0 (1:0)
Goals: Mancini G., 40 (1:0); Mancini G., 66 (2:0)

AS Roma: Svilar; Ndicka (Rensch, 37); Çelik; Hermoso; Mancini G. (Ziolkowski, 83); Wesley (till 70); Cristante; El Aynaoui; Pisilli (El Shaarawy, 46); Malen (Soule M., 83); Dybala (Dovbyk, 88)
Substitution: Rensch (from 37); El Shaarawy (from 46); Ziolkowski (from 83); Soule M. (from 83); Dovbyk (from 88)
Bench: Gollini; Angelino; Tsimikas; Ghilardi; Vaz R-o
Yellow Cards: Hermoso 42; El Shaarawy 85
Red cards: Wesley 70'

Lazio: Furlanetto; Tavares N.; Provstgaard; Gila; Basic Т.; Rovella (till 70); Taylor Ke. (Dele-Bashiru F., 62); Marušić (Lazzari M., 79); Noslin (Pedro, 79); Dia B. (Maldini D., 62); Cancellieri (Isaksen G., 71)
Substitution: Dele-Bashiru F. (from 62); Maldini D. (from 62); Isaksen G. (from 71); Lazzari M. (from 79); Pedro (from 79)
Bench: Gigot; Pellegrini Lu.; Hysaj; Belahyane Reda; Cataldi; Ratkov; Przyborek
Yellow Cards: Taylor Ke. 21; Cancellieri 42; Tavares N. 64
Red cards: Rovella 70'