Bologna 0-1 Lazio: Frattesi Extends Aquile’s Purple Patch at Dall’Ara

Bologna 0-1 Lazio: Frattesi Extends Aquile’s Purple Patch at Dall’Ara

For the third time in 2026, Lazio were victorious at the Stadio Dall’Ara, as they beat Bologna on the opening day of Serie A.

The Biancocelesti had prevailed at the same stadium earlier this year back in February (the Coppa Italia quarter-finals) and March (Serie A).

Bologna & Lazio Starting Lineups

In his Serie A managerial debut, new Bologna head coach Domenico Tedesco opted for a 4-3-3 formation spearheaded by new signing Roberto Piccoli, with Nicolo Cambiaghi and Riccardo Orsolini on the wings. The midfield comprised Oussama El Azzouzi, Jens Odgaard, and Lewis Ferguson.

Gennaro Gattuso also implemented a 4-3-3 formation, while keeping the same starting lineup that lost against Mantova in the Coppa Italia. Therefore, Christos Mandas started behind Adam Marusic, Danilho Doekhi, Oliver Provstgaard, and Alfonso Pedraza. In midfield, Nicolo Rovella operated between Kenneth Taylor and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, while Matteo Cancellieri and Mattia Zaccagni joined Boulaye Dia in attack.

Lukewarm First Half Ends Goalless

Lazio almost snatched an early lead after a lovely give-and-go between Zaccagni and Dia. The captain found himself a nice shooting angle, but his curling attempt went just past the far post. Bologna later responded with a corner kick played short, but Piccoli couldn’t hit the target either.

At the half-hour mark, Dia beat Lukasz Skuropski after finding himself one-on-one with the experienced goalkeeper, but his suspicions were confirmed when the flag was raised for a clear offside decision. Nadir Zortea almost wrong-footed Mandas with a shot that was deflected off Provstgaard, but went just wide.

In added time, the home side almost found the opener through Eivend Helland, who tried to head home Juan Miranda’s corner kick. The ball almost sailed over Mandas, the Greek goalkeeper did well to parry it away.

Mandas Makes Outrageous Save

After the break, Bologna should have taken the lead when Ferguson found an unmarked Odgaard, who had a free header from close range, but Mandas was somehow able to reach it with a sensational reaction save, while the following rebound went begging.

Davide Frattesi Gives Lazio the Lead

Shortly after replacing Dele-Bashiru, Davide Frattesi opened his account for the club on his first Serie A appearance for the Aquile. Romano Floriani Mussolini found the Inter Milan loanee from a throw-in, and the latter passed to Dia before making the run towards goal.

The Senegalese was able to complete the give-and-go with a deft backheel, putting Frattesi through on goal, and the midfielder made no mistake from close range.

Lazio Survive Bologna Onslaught

With 15 minutes left on the clock, the Emilians decided to raise the tempo in search of an equaliser. Federico Bernardeschi’s free-kick was denied thanks to the combined efforts of Mandas and the post.

Helland almost scored from the ensuing corner kick, but Frattesi cleared it off the line, while Jonathan Rowe found himself in front of goal, but the Lazio goalkeeper courageously rushed off his line to beat him for the ball. The final minute of added time bore one last chance, but Mandas completed a supreme display by pulling off an acrobatic save with his foot.

Lazio have thus began their new Serie A campaign in encouraging fashion, returning to Rome with their first three points of the season.