MILAN: Lazio and AS Roma failed to land a blow in the race for Champions League football as the capital city rivals played out a tense 1-1 draw on Sunday.

Lifelong Lazio fan Alessio Romagnoli achieved a childhood dream when he put Lazio ahead shortly after the break.

Matias Soule earned Roma a point with a sensational first time strike in the 69th minute at a packed and loud Stadio Olimpico where Lazio failed to capitalise on their dominance.

Marco Baroni`s Lazio stay sixth, three points behind fourth-placed Juventus and two points ahead of seventh-placed Roma in a tight top-four battle which could go down to the final day of the season.

`It`s a shame because the boys gave everything and they created a chances.

These are the sorts of matches where you need a bit of luck,` said Baroni to DAZN. `On the balance of play we deserved to win but we`ll take the point.

Hours before kickoff, police in riot gear intervened to prevent clashes between rival fans outside the stadium.

Lazio looked set to secure local bragging rights and close in on the top four when Romagnoli redirected a free kick with a header two minutes after half-time.

They had created the majority of chances up to that point and were only denied the lead early on by some spectacular goalkeeping from Mile Svilar.

There was also a spectacular save from Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas, who tipped away a dangerous header from Gianluca Mancini.

Soule punished nominal hosts Lazio when he strode onto Alexis Saelemaekers` pass and from well outside the penalty area let rip with a curling strike which snuck behind the line via the crossbar.

Argentinian Soule`s fourth goal of the season saved Roma but the draw ended Claudio Ranieri`s perfect Rome derby record as coach and left his team five points behind Juve.

It is to Ranieri`s credit however that Roma are only two points away from Lazio as that gap was 12 when he took charge for the third time in his long managerial career back in November.

Ranieri, 73, will retire for the second time at the end of this season before taking up what sporting director Florent Ghisolfi called a `sporting consultant` role with the club.

`I would have liked to have closed my career with another derby win, but that`s football: you get good things and not so good things and you have to learn to accept both,` said Ranieri.-Agencies