Lazio, Roma settle for derby stalemate

Aleksandar Kolarov put Roma ahead in the 17th minute against the run of play with a well-taken penalty at a colourful Stadio Olimpico, but Luis Alberto grabbed the equaliser just before the hour mark to leave Paulo Fonseca without a win as new Roma boss.

Lazio missed several chances to seal a second win from their two opening games, hitting the woodwork four times with Roma rattling the frame of the goal twice. The hosts' biggest regret was Manuel Lazzari's 92nd-minute strike being ruled out for offside.

"There's a bit of bitterness. We had 21 shots on goal, hit the woodwork four times and a goal ruled out," said Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi.

"We had so many chances and you have to win games like that."

Lazio are second in the Serie A table behind champions Juventus, who are on maximum points following their thrilling 4-3 win over Napoli on Saturday, while Roma languish in mid-table after two straight draws.

"We offered an extraordinary show for the public, and a great thrill for me as a coach, at my first Rome derby," said Fonseca.

"They created so many scoring opportunities, buts it's difficult to play against a team like Lazio that presses in every area."

The derby took place amid heightened security after the murder of former Lazio ultras chiefs Fabrizio Piscitelli, nicknamed "Diabolik", who was shot dead in the capital last month.

Piscitelli was for almost 30 years the boss of Lazio's hardcore Irriducibili ("Die Hards") fan group, which is notorious for its far-right politics.

Lazio fans unfurled a banner in his honour before the match with "Rest in peace Fabrizio".

Roma took the early lead after Edin Dzeko pressured Sergej Milinkovic-Savic into a handball, with the referee pointing to the spot.

Lazio's Lucas Leiva, Ciro Immobile, Tucu Correa and Marco Parolo all hit the woodwork, while Roma's Nicolo Zaniolo was denied by the post twice in the first half hour.

New Roma goalkeeper Pau Lopez also proved decisive, diving to deny an Immobile header before the break and Joaquin Correa from close range in the second half.

However Alberto found a way through after 58 minutes following good work from both Milinkovic-Savic and Immobile to salvage a deserved point.