The much-anticipated derby between old rivals AS Roma and Lazio at Rome's Olympic Stadium on 8 April ended in a 1-1 draw but was marred by violence before the game.

There were clashes in Ponte Milvio between hooded "ultrà" and riot police who responded with tear gas. Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno appealed for calm but by the end of the evening there were eight reported stabbings and four arrests.

In the Flaminio area shops closed early, and the already heavy traffic was exasperated by a public transport strike organised by Rome bus company ATAC between 20.00 and midnight.

The game kicked off at 20.45 and was fast-paced from the start. Lazio took a 16th minute lead after Brazilian midfielder Anderson Hernanes scored a spectacular goal but in the early second half he disappointed fans by failing to convert a penalty.

Hernanes then fouled Miralem Pjanic in the 56^th minute, giving Roma a penalty which captain Francesco Totti scored against goalie Federico Marchetti. The veteran Totti later described the goal, his ninth in a derby, as the "most beautiful record of my career".

However the Giallorossi failed to capitalise on the fact that Lazio became a 10-man team with the expulsion of defender Giuseppe Biava in the 69th minute, and the match ended in a draw.

Roma remain in seventh place in Serie A, 23 points behind leaders Juventus and three behind Lazio that moved from sixth to fifth position.