AS Roma fullback Federico Balzaretti has defended Daniele de Rossi after his dismissal in defeat to Lazio.

Roma coach Zdenek Zeman says the red card changed the course of the game.

We're all close to Daniele," Balzaretti told Sky Sport Italia. "That's also because he shouldn't be the scapegoat. We all made mistakes.

"The defeat was not as a direct result of Daniele's sending off."