| There was no question over who was the star of this particular show as Vincenzo Montella netted four goals for the title holders.
The Rome derby is undoubtedly one of the most keenly felt matches in the Serie A calendar and the timing of this clash - with Roma aiming for the title and Lazio hoping for a spot in the Champions' League - made it an event to savour.
Surprisingly, Gabriel Batistuta was left out of this tie. Officially this was due to an injury, but the fact he was not even in the stands for such an important game suggests he was unhappy at being left out in favour of Vincenzo Montella.
Lazio's choices were forced upon them as a succession of injuries left the team decimated. Unpopular Sinisa Mihajlovic started in a three-man defence rather than the predicted use of Dino Baggio at the back.
The Biancocelesti had the first scoring opportunity as Simone Inzaghi took advantage of Walter Samuel's error, but Francesco Antonioli took two attempts to get the situation under control.
Soon after Angelo Peruzzi turned a powerful Francesco Totti piledriver round the near post. The deadlock was eventually broken when Totti's backheel started a move that saw Montella nod in a Vincent Candela cross.
Both sides went close to netting through Giuseppe Pancaro, Dino Baggio and Marcos Cafu.
On the half-hour mark Peruzzi parried a splendid Totti solo effort, but Montella was remarkably quick to pounce on the loose ball as Alessandro Nesta was preparing to clear. 'Aeroplanino' literally slid under Nesta's raised leg to knock the ball in for a real poacher's goal.
Montella had completed his hat-trick inside the first 36 minutes when he got in front of Nesta to nod in Totti's free kick.
Lazio were shell-shocked but still brought a fine save out of Antonioli with a Mihajlovic free kick. Curiously, Montella missed the easiest of chances when he was unmarked in the box just before the break.
Nesta was having a nightmare in defence and surprisingly was substituted as a tactical decision by Coach Alberto Zaccheroni, returning to a 4-4-2 system.
It took an absolute screamer from Dejan Stankovic to spark up the second half as the Yugoslav slotted in from 30 metres. Lazio were pushed forward by their fans and the Giallorossi began to waver. The tension got to Delvecchio who entered into a scuffle with Stankovic.
However, Montella put a stop to any dreams of a comeback with his fourth goal of the game. The former Sampdoria striker completed his poker with a screamer from 20 metres that ricocheted off the crossbar before slotting into the net.
This perhaps proves that Montella is not merely a super-sub, but the unlucky star bruised his eye during the goal celebrations. Totti had set up three of the goals and got his name on the scoresheet with a delicate lob past Peruzzi.
This is Lazio's first home defeat of the season.
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