Lazio 1-1 Bologna: A Game of Two Danes

Lazio squandered an opportunity to edge closer to the European spots, as they settled for a draw at home against Bologna.

The biggest surprise in Maurizio Sarri’s lineup was the inclusion of Danilo Cataldi, who returned from injury ahead of schedule. The Lazio youth product slotted between Toma Basic and Matteo Guendouzi in midfield. Taty Castellanos led the line flanked by Gustav Isaksen and Mattia Zaccagni, while Nuno Tavares returned to the backline, joining Adam Marusic, Mario Gila and Alessio Romagnoli.

The match began after a fitting homage to Ciro Immobile (who remained on the bench for the entire contest. The first half was marked by questionable defending and poor passes at the back. Riccardo Orsolini almost broke the deadlock in the first minute after skipping past Tavares, but couldn’t hit the target.

Nicolo Casale then gifted the ball away to his former teammates, allowing Castellanos to set up Isaksen, who tried to slot one in the bottom corner, but Federico Ravaglia put his foot in the way.

Marusic then imitated Casale by giving the ball away in the final meters of the pitch. But luckily for the Montenegrin, Ivan Provedel was well-positioned to stop Jens Odgard’s attempt. The Lazio shot-stopper then produced an even more remarkable save on Tommaso Pobega’s shot.

After a series of chances at both ends of the pitch, it was Isaksen who broke the deadlock in the 38th minute. Guendouzi’s through ball freed Marusic on the right flank, and he managed to pick up Zaccagni with a square ball across the face of the goal. The captain’s curler was denied by Ravaglia, but Isaksen was there to pounce on the rebound.

Sadly for the Aquile, their joy was short-lived, as the visitors forked out an equaliser a couple of minutes later. Nadir Zortea nutmegged Tavares before trying his luck from an acute angle. Provedel put an arm in the way, and it was just enough to deflect the shot into the post, but Odgaard was the first to react on the rebound, following in the footsteps of his compatriot Isaksen.

After a timid quarter of an hour, Lazio retook the initiative after the hour mark, launching an onslaught on the Rossoblu’s goal. However, they were thwarted by Ravaglia, who pulled off two solid saves on Guendouzi’s two shots, as well as dangerous headers from substitutes Matteo Cancellieri and Tijjani Noslin.

While the Biancocelesti appeared to be on the right track towards finding an equalizer, their work was undone by a moment of madness from Gila, who caught Santiago Castro, which resulted in a foul. He then took his complaints too far to Michael Fabbri’s liking. Hence, the match official showed the Spanish defender a straight red card.

With Lazio down to 10 men, Patric was introduced for the final stages, and did well to help his team survive without any major scares. In the end, this was a game that both sides will feel they should have won, but they ended up sharing the spoils.

Lazio 1-1 Bologna

Goalscorers: 38′ Isaksen (L), 40′ Odgaard (B)

LAZIO (4-3-3):  Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares (46′ Lazzari); Guendouzi, Cataldi (75′ Dele-Bashiru), Basic (79′ Patric); Isaksen (46′ Cancellieri), Castellanos (59′ Noslin), Zaccagni. 

BOLOGNA (4-2-3-1) : Ravaglia; Zortea, Heggem, Casale (40′ De Silvestri), Miranda; Pobega, Moro (64′ Ferguson); Orsolini (64′ Bernardeschi), Odgaard, Cambiaghi (64′ Rowe); Castro (83′ Dallinga). Referee: Fabbri; Assistants: Preti – Politi; Fourth Official: Sacchi; VAR: Mazzoleni; VAR: Nasca

Yellow cards: 19′ Tavares (L), 31′ Moro (B), 49′ Cambiaghi (B), 66′ Lazzari (L), 78′ Gila (L), 84′ Miranda

Red card: 78′ Gila (L)