Super Eagles midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, endured a quiet evening at the Stadio Olimpico as Lazio and AS Roma played out a fiercely contested 1-1 draw in their highly anticipated Rome Derby on Sunday.

The intense encounter saw Lazio take control in the opening half, creating several clear-cut chances that tested Roma’s resilience. Efforts from Alessio Romagnoli and Gustav Isaksen forced smart stops from Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar, who kept the game level with a string of fine saves.

The breakthrough eventually came just moments after the restart. Lazio’s captain Alessio Romagnoli reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the Roma penalty area and fired home to hand the Biancocelesti a deserved lead in the 47th minute, sending the home fans into wild celebrations.

Roma, however, refused to fold under pressure and steadily grew into the game. Their persistence paid off in the 69th minute when Matias Soule produced a moment of brilliance, curling an unstoppable strike past Lazio’s goalkeeper to bring his side back on level terms. The equaliser reignited the contest, with both teams pushing for a winner in the closing stages.

Despite the high stakes and intensity of the match, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru struggled to make a meaningful impact in midfield. The 24-year-old Super Eagles international, making his 28th appearance of the campaign, was largely anonymous throughout his 79 minutes on the pitch. His performance reflected a challenging evening for the Nigerian, who found it difficult to influence proceedings against Roma’s experienced midfield line-up.

Statistically, Dele-Bashiru completed just 10 of his 14 attempted passes, ending with a pass accuracy of 71%. He registered only 24 touches during the game, failed to record a single shot or key pass, and was unsuccessful in his lone dribble attempt. His solitary cross also missed its target, as he struggled to link up with his teammates in key attacking moments.

While Dele-Bashiru’s contribution was limited on the night, he remains a key member of Marco Baroni’s Lazio squad. The midfielder has shown flashes of quality throughout the season, tallying five goals and two assists across all competitions, while averaging just 50 minutes per appearance. His versatility and work rate continue to make him a valuable asset for the side, even on nights when his influence wanes.

The result leaves Lazio clinging to sixth place in the Serie A standings, two points clear of seventh-placed Roma, who continue their late push for European qualification under veteran manager Claudio Ranieri. The final stages of the match produced a flurry of chances at both ends, with Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar making a brilliant double save to deny Boulaye Dia, while Matias Soule almost snatched a winner for the Giallorossi with a curling shot that sailed just wide of the post.

Elsewhere in Serie A, Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman’s Atalanta ended their recent slump by snapping a three-game losing streak with an important 2-0 victory over Bologna. The win lifted Atalanta back into third place, bolstering their hopes of securing a Champions League spot for next season as the Serie A campaign enters its decisive final stretch.