5 AS Roma Rivalries You Need to Know About

Associazione Sportiva Roma, universally recognized as AS Roma, stands among the most celebrated institutions in European sports. Across a rich history spanning more than a century, the club from the Eternal City has woven deep athletic and cultural connections throughout Italy. Competing consistently at the highest tiers of domestic and continental football, the club has sparked passionate rivalries that make annual league and cup fixtures far more significant than conventional matches.

Rivalries in Italian football evolve along distinct paths. In certain matchups, pure longevity and sheer volume of competitive collisions build intense sporting friction over decades. In others, the dynamic operates on a fiercely personal level between communities, shaped by municipal territory, regional tensions, and contrasting social identities. Understanding Roma's primary rivals sheds light on how the club has evolved, how it performs under pressure, and why these specific fixtures captivate generations of supporters.

At a glance: Roma's primary competitive rivals

Over the decades, Roma has developed enduring rivalries across Serie A. While local bragging rights dominate the capital, historic clashes with northern giants and regional neighbors carry their own statistical weight and distinct competitive stakes.

Opponent	Rivalry Name	First Meeting / Landmark	Roma Record Context
ACF Fiorentina	Derby of Central Italy	1931–1932 Serie A season	64 wins, 63 draws, 54 losses across first 180 games
Juventus	No official title	192 matches across all competitions	47 wins, 54 draws, 91 losses overall; dominant at home, 9 away wins in first 90
Internazionale	No official title	First opponent faced 200 times (2021–2022)	57 wins, 57 draws, 88 losses; repeated Coppa Italia final matchups
Napoli	Derby Del Sole	Initial clash in 1928	58 wins, 55 draws, 51 losses across first 164 matches
SS Lazio	Derby Capitolino	Capital city shared ground	61 wins, 60 draws, 46 losses across first 167 matches

The five defining rivalries of AS Roma

Each of Roma's five major matchups carries its own emotional weight, tactical history, and unique competitive balance. From bitter crosstown hostility to regional pride and title-deciding clashes, these fixtures define the club's domestic campaigns.

ACF Fiorentina

• Rivalry Name: Derby of Central Italy
• Inaugural Fixture: 1931–1932 Serie A season
• Head-to-Head (180 Matches): 64 Roma wins, 63 draws, 54 Fiorentina wins

Fiorentina ranks among the most frequent opponents in Roma's entire competitive existence, with only three clubs having faced the Giallorossi more often. Despite this extensive history, no rivalry involving Roma has maintained such a level balance over the decades. Regardless of league positioning or current form, when these two clubs take the pitch, the encounter routinely tightens into a grueling contest. Even during campaigns where one squad struggles in the standings, it consistently finds a way to deliver a result against the other.

The series kicked off officially during the 1931–1932 Serie A season, an opening match in which Fiorentina captured the first victory. Although both clubs maintain bitter sporting feuds elsewhere in Italy, their direct clashes are defined by razor-thin margins. Four-goal blowouts are virtually unheard of in this series; the vast majority of fixtures conclude either in shared points or as tense one-goal victories decided in the final minutes.

Juventus

• Head-to-Head (192 Matches): 47 Roma wins, 54 draws, 91 Juventus wins
• Roma Home Record: 32 wins, 30 draws, 27 defeats
• Roma Away Record (90 Matches): 9 wins, 59 Juventus wins

While Roma holds a competitive advantage against Fiorentina, facing the powerhouse from Turin has historically represented a steep uphill battle. Across their opening 192 matches in all competitions, Juventus compiled 91 victories compared to 47 for Roma, alongside 54 draws. Although the fixture lacks an official derby moniker, supporters and players treat the matchup with tremendous gravity. Matches between the two sides are characterized by elevated intensity, physical toughness, and rapid tactical tempos as both sides push to establish domestic superiority.

The defining element of this rivalry lies in the dramatic divide between home and away fixtures. When hosting the match in Rome, the home side has proven exceptionally resilient, collecting 32 wins and 30 draws against just 27 defeats. In stark contrast, traveling to Turin has produced decades of hardship: across Roma's first 90 away matches against Juventus, the club secured only 9 victories while suffering 59 defeats against a dominant home squad.

Internazionale

• Milestone: First club Roma faced 200 times (reached in 2021–2022)
• Head-to-Head (200 Matches): 57 Roma wins, 57 draws, 88 Inter wins
• Cup Record: Inter has won every Coppa Italia final contested between the two

The long-running conflict between AS Roma and Milan-based Internazionale is one of the foundational matchups in Italian football. The historical volume of this fixture is unmatched: Inter became the very first opponent that Roma faced 200 times in competitive play, crossing that threshold during the 2021–2022 Serie A campaign. Across that initial 200-game span, Roma secured 57 wins and 57 draws while suffering 88 defeats against the Nerazzurri.

As with the Juventus series, home advantage heavily dictates the statistical outcomes. In Rome, the Giallorossi have held their own with 35 victories against 29 losses. However, playing at the San Siro in Milan has favored Inter, who built a commanding 47-to-16 win advantage on their home grass. Beyond the Serie A table, this rivalry has repeatedly defined domestic cup silverware. The two clubs have met numerous times in the Coppa Italia knockout stages, including multiple tournament finals. Although every cup final was a tightly contested duel, Inter managed to claim victory in each of those championship clashes.

Rivalries in Italian football are shaped as much by municipal borders and cultural pride as they are by championship silverware.

Napoli

• Rivalry Name: Derby Del Sole (Derby of the Sun)
• Inaugural Fixture: 1928
• Head-to-Head (164 Matches): 58 Roma wins, 55 draws, 51 Napoli wins

When discussing true rivalries embedded into the DNA of the club, Napoli sits right at the heart of Roma's footballing identity. Known as the Derby Del Sole, or the Derby of the Sun, the geographic clash between these two prominent southern clubs began back in 1928. Over the course of their first 164 meetings, the series has remained extraordinarily tight, with Roma tallying 58 victories, Napoli earning 51, and 55 fixtures ending in draws across more than 170 lifetime meetings.

The balance of power in the Derby Del Sole tends to move in extended cyclical waves. During the early 2000s, Roma asserted absolute dominance over their southern rivals, crafting an impressive 10-match unbeaten run. By the early 2020s, the tide swung dramatically in the opposite direction, with Napoli mounting an extended stretch where they appeared virtually unbeatable against Roma. This balance extends beyond direct encounters; across their long histories, the two clubs have almost evenly split their higher league table finishes in Serie A.

SS Lazio

• Rivalry Name: Derby Capitolino (Rome Derby)
• Head-to-Head (167 Matches): 61 Roma wins, 60 draws, 46 Lazio wins
• Historical Context: Italy's most volatile municipal rivalry

Occupying the undisputed pinnacle of AS Roma's rivalries is the crosstown war against SS Lazio. Known as the Derby Capitolino, this local duel represents the most emotionally volatile fixture in Italian football. Because both institutions share the capital city and its municipal stadium, supporters interact constantly across workplaces, neighborhoods, and families, building an atmosphere of unyielding tension that lingers all year round.

This shared territory has occasionally led to tragedy and bitter animosity. In one tragic chapter in the derby's past, a player lost his life on the pitch for the first time in Italian football history as a result of unruly supporters. The cultural rift between fanbases remains wide and deeply polarized. Roma supporters frequently look upon Lazio's following with disdain, a view magnified by multiple episodes where Lazio ultras brought anti-Semitic apparel into the stadium. Consequently, neutral observers and international fans often view Roma as the more sympathetic side of the capital division. From a competitive standpoint, Roma holds the bragging rights: through their first 167 meetings, Roma earned 61 victories and 60 draws, holding Lazio to 46 wins.

The three pillars of Italian football rivalries

To fully grasp why these five matchups dominate Roma's calendar, it helps to examine the structural mechanics behind football rivalries across Europe. These high-voltage matches are driven by three fundamental forces that elevate them far above ordinary league games:

• Geographical proximity: Local derbies, most notably the Derby Capitolino with Lazio, draw their intensity from sharing a city. When supporters cross paths every single day, the outcome of a 90-minute match dictates civic pride and everyday bragging rights for months.
• Sporting stakes and silverware: Clashes with non-local giants like Juventus and Internazionale develop over time through repeated championship battles. Contesting domestic titles and facing off in Coppa Italia finals generates deep professional friction between squads and managers.
• Regional and cultural identity: Fixtures like the Derby of Central Italy against Fiorentina or the Derby Del Sole against Napoli turn the pitch into a showcase of regional heritage, pitting northern, central, and southern Italian perspectives against one another.

How to follow AS Roma's major rivalry matches

Navigating a Serie A season requires keeping a close eye on the calendar and understanding how tournament draws impact competitive fatigue. Supporters who want to experience the full drama of Roma's rivalry fixtures should follow a methodical approach throughout the campaign.

1. Scan the domestic league schedule: As soon as the Serie A calendar is released in the summer, pinpoint the dates for the five major rivalries. Take specific note of back-to-back rivalry weeks that can stretch squad depth.
2. Track the Coppa Italia tournament bracket: Keep tabs on cup fixtures beginning in the winter. Because Roma frequently collides with Inter and Juventus in late knockout rounds, these knockout ties often land between pivotal league matches.
3. Analyze the venue splits before kickoff: Evaluate whether the match takes place at the Stadio Olimpico or on the road. Knowing Roma's historical home strength against sides like Juventus and Inter gives valuable context to pre-match expectations.
4. Account for historical momentum cycles: Look at recent multi-year runs rather than just immediate form. As demonstrated by the Napoli rivalry, these encounters frequently swing in long streaks where one side struggles to beat the other.

Common mistakes when assessing Roma's rivalries

Following Italian football requires distinguishing between passion and sporting reality. Outside observers and new supporters frequently fall into analytical traps when evaluating Roma's biggest matches:

• Equating local passion with title stakes: A common error is assuming the most emotional match carries the greatest championship consequence. The Lazio derby generates unmatched municipal tension, but matches against Juventus and Inter have historically had far greater implications for national league titles and cup trophies.
• Dismissing home-field advantage: Overlooking where a match is played can distort expectations. Roma has historically remained formidable against Juventus at home in Rome, even during eras when securing an away victory in Turin seemed almost impossible.
• Assuming recent form dictates derby results: Expecting an in-form team to cruise past a struggling rival in a derby routinely proves false. In the Derby of Central Italy against Fiorentina, underperforming squads frequently find a way to secure a win regardless of league position.
• Mixing up official match designations: New followers often confuse traditional derby titles. Keeping the specific names clear—such as the Derby Capitolino for Lazio, the Derby Del Sole for Napoli, and the Derby of Central Italy for Fiorentina—helps when studying historical records.

Frequently asked questions

What is AS Roma's biggest rivalry?

AS Roma's most intense rivalry is with crosstown neighbor SS Lazio in the Derby Capitolino. Sharing the capital city and its primary stadium fuels a level of cultural, emotional, and social hostility that surpasses all other fixtures on the club's schedule.

Why is the match between Roma and Napoli called the Derby Del Sole?

The match is named the Derby Del Sole, or Derby of the Sun, because it features the two most prominent and historically successful football clubs located in the central-southern regions of Italy.

Which team has AS Roma played the most times in competitive history?

Internazionale holds the distinction of being the first club Roma faced 200 times across competitive competitions, reaching that milestone during the 2021–2022 Serie A campaign.

How has AS Roma performed historically against Juventus?

Facing Juventus has historically been an uphill battle for Roma, with Juventus winning 91 of their first 192 meetings. While Roma holds a winning record when hosting Juventus in Rome, they managed only 9 victories across their first 90 away trips to Turin.

Does AS Roma have a winning record against SS Lazio?

Yes. Across their first 167 competitive meetings in the Derby Capitolino, AS Roma holds the sporting edge with 61 victories and 60 draws, compared to 46 wins for SS Lazio.

The bottom line

AS Roma's identity has been forged through more than a century of fierce domestic combat. Whether battling SS Lazio for capital city supremacy, navigating balanced grinds against ACF Fiorentina, trading dominance across southern Italy with Napoli, or challenging northern powerhouses Juventus and Internazionale, these five rivalries define the Giallorossi experience. For any supporter looking to appreciate the depth of Italian football, these fixtures offer the clearest window into the tactical tension, regional heritage, and enduring passion that make the sport an essential part of Italian culture.