The Laziali, already victorious in the first leg (1-0), managed a nice coup in the battle for the Champions League by putting the Wolf (5th) to five points.

Thanks to a goal from Mattia Zaccagni, Maurizio Sarri's team will keep its place as runner-up, 19 points behind Napoli, if Inter Milan, third with two points, does not beat Juventus Turin (7th) at the end of this 27th day.

As against Sassuolo (3-4) last week, Roma scuttled with two warnings received in 32 minutes by Roger Ibanez, already an unfortunate hero of the first leg with a big mistake on goal. The derby hitherto closed and choppy but relatively balanced, then became complicated for Jose Mourinho's team, suspended.

Giallorosso goalkeeper Rui Patricio delayed the deadline ahead of Luis Alberto (57th), Pedro (62nd) and a close-range recovery from Felipe Anderson (63rd). But could not do anything on the perfect cross-shot of Mattia Zaccagni (65th), author of nine goals, as much as the home striker Ciro Immobile, back from injury and remained on the bench.

"When you win these games, you gain confidence. The ranking will allow us to look forward, "said on DAZN the scorer of the day.

Lazio midfielder Mattia Zaccagni (r) scored against AS Roma on March 19, 2023 at the Olympic Stadium in Rome © Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP

Roma thought they had snatched the equaliser just after, but Nicolo Casale's goal against his side was cancelled out for an offside by Chris Smalling.

Neapolitan supporters in number

Napoli, for its part, showed incredible form, four days after validating its place for the quarter-finals of the Champions League by easily dominating Eintracht Frankfurt (3-0), with more spectacle and goals.

Already twice scorer against the Germans, Victor Osimhen placed two winning headers, the first to open the scoring on corner (9th), the second for 3-0 from the resumption (51st).

The striker, whose protective mask has become the fashionable accessory among Neapolitan fans, establishes his place as leader in the scoring table with 21 goals.

Napoli's Neapolitan striker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (r) is ahead of Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci on March 19, 2023 in Turin © Marco BERTORELLO / AFP

The ex-Lille thanked the thousands of Neapolitan tifosi who made the trip to Turin for the resumption of fan travel after two months of suspension imposed by the authorities after "ultras" from Naples and Roma had wreaked havoc on a major Italian motorway in early January.

"They have believed in it for years (in the scudetto, editor's note), no one deserves it more than the tifosi of Napoli," said the Neapolitan striker, who advances to an average goal per game in 2023 (15 in 15 games).

Kvaratskhelia also maintained its usual standards with a goal, his 12th, on penalty kick (35th) and an assist, his 10th in the league (best assist), for the fourth goal by Tanguy Ndombélé (68th).

At the bottom of the table, Sampdoria, red lantern before this day, maintained its hopes of maintenance by dominating another relegable Hellas Verona (18th) thanks in particular to a double of Manolo Gabbiadini (3-1).

© 2023 AFP