Romagnoli: "We Must Make Up For The Poor Performance In Norway. We’ll Give It Everything. This Goal Means Everything To Me."

Alessio Romagnoli experienced a dream come true as he found the back of the net in Lazio’s heated 1-1 draw with AS Roma in the Derby della Capitale, held at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday (April 13, 2025). The goal was a deeply personal moment for the center-back, a lifelong Lazio fan, who was thrilled to make a decisive impact in one of Italy’s fiercest rivalries.

Romagnoli had a chance to score earlier in the match, but his header was superbly denied by Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar. However, the 29-year-old made no mistake early in the second half, rising high to head home a pinpoint free kick from Luca Pellegrini in the 47th minute.

The goal held added significance, not just because of the rivalry, but because both Romagnoli and Pellegrini—despite being products of Roma’s youth system—have always been ardent Lazio supporters. Born in Anzio, Lazio, Romagnoli celebrated the moment passionately with the Curva Nord faithful, proudly showing his allegiance by kissing the club badge.

After the match, Romagnoli reflected on his earlier miss and admitted he could have done better. “I didn’t receive the ball perfectly,” he told DAZN. “Watching it again, I should have finished it.”

While pleased with his goal, Romagnoli expressed some disappointment with the team’s overall performance. He felt Lazio became too cautious after taking the lead. “Our first half was good, but we needed to be more aggressive after scoring. Derbies are often decided by moments like this,” he said.

Despite the eventual 1-1 draw, Romagnoli praised his team’s resilience in the closing stages, highlighting the chances created to snatch a win. For him, scoring in this match was more than just a statistic—it was a personal triumph. “This goal means everything to me. I’ve always wanted to play for Lazio. It’s like returning home,” he added.

Romagnoli, who previously played for Milan, emphasized that his commitment now lies fully with Lazio. As the team looks ahead to the Europa League quarterfinal second leg against Bodo/Glimt—where they trail 2-0—Romagnoli called on his teammates to rise to the occasion.

“There’s no excuse for fatigue. We owe it to ourselves and our fans to fight until the end,” he stated. “We must make up for the poor performance in Norway. We’ll give it everything.”