James Wilson 
Claudio Ranieri has solidified his reputation as the “Derbyman” after guiding AS Roma to a 2-0 victory over Lazio in the capital derby on Sunday, extending his perfect record in this fierce rivalry.
The win provided a much-needed boost for Roma amid a challenging season. Captain Lorenzo Pellegrini opened the scoring with a curling shot from the edge of the area, followed by Alexis Saelemaekers, who capped off a swift counterattack to give Roma a two-goal lead within the first 18 minutes.
With this victory, Ranieri improved his record to five wins in five derbies as Roma’s head coach. He is the third manager for the team this season, following the dismissals of Daniele De Rossi and Ivan Juric. Ranieri previously led Roma during his first stint from 2009 to 2011 and had a brief return in 2019.
“The coach is a legend of Rome. We all know it, and we’re all happy for him,” Saelemaekers said. “He took over the team in a tough moment, reset the entire group, and improved the mentality.” In addition to his success with Roma, Ranieri has triumphed in other significant derbies in Italy while managing Inter Milan, Juventus, and Sampdoria.
Ranieri commented on his approach to the derby: “If the squad is lacking energy, you need to provide energy. But usually, the team has enough energy for the derby, and the coach doesn’t need to add anything. I just try to keep the players serene and calm so they can give everything they can on the pitch.”
Known for his remarkable achievement of leading Leicester City to the Premier League title in 2016, Ranieri also earned the nickname “Tinkerman” during his time in England due to his frequent player rotations.
After helping Cagliari avoid relegation last season, Ranieri initially stated that it would be his last club job. However, he accepted the challenge at Roma in November to restore order. His contract includes a provision for him to transition into an executive role after the season, where he will have a say in selecting the next coach.
With this victory, Roma has won three of its last five Serie A matches, moving up to 10th place, while Lazio remains in fourth. Pellegrini’s goal was particularly significant, alleviating some of the pressure he has faced from Roma fans this season.
Prior to kickoff, a car caught fire outside the Stadio Olimpico after being struck by fireworks as rival fans attempted to approach each other.
In other Serie A action on Sunday, Cagliari came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory against last-place Monza, thanks to goals from Nadir Zortea and Roberto Piccoli. Meanwhile, both Torino vs. Parma and Lecce vs. Genoa ended in goalless draws.
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