AS Roma fullback Federico Balzaretti was brought to tears with his goal in victory over Lazio.

The left-back broke the deadlock in a 2-0 Derby della Capitale victory over Lazio and he could not hide his emotion as he ran under the Curva Sud.

"I felt such incredible joy and emotion," he told Mediaset and Roma Channel. "This doesn't happen every day. I tend to score once every four years, so to do it in the Derby... So much went through my head at that moment."

It was particularly important for Balzaretti, as he was one of the most bitterly criticised in May after the Coppa Italia Final defeat to Lazio.

"Criticism is part of the sport and my strength is that I keep working the way I always have done. I know the club has faith in me and my teammates care for me.

"The problem is not what others say, but how I feel and I can assure you that when I play badly, I feel absolutely terrible. I try to take responsibility and keep working."