Bologna, August 24, 2026 – Bitter debut for the new Bologna of Domenico Tedesco. The rossoblù fall at their first match at Dall’Ara, 1-0 at the hands of a Lazio team that was good at exploiting the only real chance of the game with Frattesi in the second half. The overall script, however, is cumbersome, with the team struggling to get going and seeming devoid of ideas. It will take time, of course, but such a debut in front of over 28,000 spectators is not the best calling card for the debutant Tedesco.
The choices
The Bologna coach surprises everyone and with the transfer rumors characterizing the hours before the match, the rossoblù coach keeps Rowe on the bench as well as Bernardeschi, with Cambiaghi composing the front three and Odgaard as mezzala.
First half
At 4’ Lazio tries vertically, with a central through ball for Cancellieri, Skorupski comes out with his foot at the edge of the area and clears the danger. Four minutes later Dele Bashiru filters for Zaccagni after a move on the white and sky blue flank, the number 10 from the heart of the area tries to place it on the far post, the ball goes out by a few meters. In the first minutes Gattuso’s team seems more proactive and after a burst from the rossoblù right at the start of the match, it is the Lazio eleven that holds the ball.
This is confirmed by the first corner of the match, which is for Lazio, with the action leading to a weak shot by Cancellieri, easily controlled by Skorupski who blocks it on the ground. Bologna shows up forward at 17’, with an offensive error by Lazio that favors Cambiaghi’s counterattack, stopped in a corner when he is already inside the area by Marusic’s providential slide, on the developments there is Piccoli’s turn which goes out but still makes the Bulgarelli jump. Meanwhile, Marusic leaves the field due to a physical problem, replaced by Floriani-Mussolini. As time passes, Tedesco’s team also gains more awareness, raising the pressing though without managing to create real danger situations for the opponents.
At 31’ Lazio puts the ball in the net but everything is immediately stopped: Dia is beyond the line at the start on Rovella’s launch, goal rightly disallowed. The first real thrill in rossoblù colors arrives at 37’: Piccoli defends a ball well while retreating, starts with the ball at his feet, exchanges with Orsolini, then the ball reaches Zortea who tries the shot, deflected by Provstgaard, with the ball almost beating Mandas. On the corner developments, Orso crosses but Odgaard’s backheel deflection is too weak, easy catch for Lazio’s goalkeeper. The match thus flows towards the end of the first half, with referee Maresca sending off Tedesco’s assistant Tarozzi, cheered by the Dall’Ara crowd in his walk to the locker rooms.
The former rossoblù player protests too much according to the referee after Cancellieri’s foul on Cambiaghi. The match reaches 4 minutes of added time, with Helland’s header from Miranda’s corner being deflected at the last moment into a corner by Mandas. On the developments, still nothing happens. The first half ends 0-0.
Second half
The second half starts without changes for Tedesco, with Gattuso instead sending Isaksen on for Cancellieri. Bologna starts strong and at 47’ has the chance to take the lead: Ferguson’s cross, Odgaard jumps all alone in the area and tries to direct the header but Mandas arrives on the ball, a bit slow, and with his hand avoids the goal. The rossoblù then try to ignite, with Miranda reaching the bottom twice to cross. Tedesco’s team seems to have benefited from the break, with more courage and more speed in the play in the first minutes of this second half.
Lazio on their part shows up forward again with two consecutive corners, both without threat, with Skorupski once punching the danger away. At 59’ however it is the white and sky blues who take the lead: El Azzouzi sleeps in defense, Dia backheels to free the newly entered Frattesi who closes the triangle started by him and from the small area easily beats Skorupski. It’s 1-0 for Lazio. Tedesco immediately changes, with Bernardeschi, Rowe and Dovbyk for Orsolini, Cambiaghi and Piccoli, thus changing the entire offensive front. However, it is still the guests who make themselves dangerous, with a counterattack ending with Zaccagni’s shot, easily saved by Skorupski. Gattuso’s men’s goal comes at Bologna’s best moment, who try to rewind the tape, struggling as in the first half.
At 69’ another change for Tedesco who chooses Holm for Zortea. Bologna challenges the draw on two occasions: first on a free kick with Bernardeschi, whose shot is deflected by Mandas onto the post, then with Helland’s shot which on a layoff from Heggem is blocked on the line by Frattesi. At 77’ another scare for Lazio, ball remains in the small area and Rowe tries to anticipate with his toe, Mandas comes out low and clears. Tedesco also plays his last change, El Azzouzi out, debutant Amondarain in. Berna tries again at 82’, with his usual cut inside but his shot goes very high. Time passes but Bologna lacks the spark, with possession not rewarding Tedesco’s team, too cumbersome in midfield and slow in the play.
From an Amondarain error Lazio could instead double, with Isaksen receiving from Taylor in the area but shooting high. Maresca thus allows 6 minutes of added time, with Rowe trying to ignite himself by winning an interesting free kick. Holm takes the ball, but the wall repels. The rossoblù remain forward but also waste another interesting free kick. Almost at the end there could be glory for Dovbyk, fed in the center by Bernardeschi but the ex-Roma is cumbersome and on the stretched ball does something halfway between a stop and a shot. There is no more time, Lazio wins at Dall’Ara.
Bologna-Lazio: ends 0-1 at Dall’Ara
BOLOGNA (4-3-3): Skorupski; Zortea (69′ Holm), Heggem, Helland, Miranda; Odgaard, El Azzouzi (79′ Amondarain), Ferguson; Orsolini (60′ Bernadeschi), Piccoli (60′ Dovbyk), Cambiaghi (60′ Rowe). Coach: Tedesco
LAZIO (4-3-3): Mandas; Marusic (19′ Floriani), Doekhi, Provstgaard, Pedraza (79′ Nuno Tavares); Dele-Bashiru (54′ Frattesi), Rovella, Taylor; Cancellieri (46′ Isaksen), Dia (79′ Noslin), Zaccagni. Coach: Gattuso
REFEREE: Maresca
SCORERS: 59′ Frattesi
YELLOW CARDS: Floriani (L), El Azzouzi (B), Dia (L), Cambiaghi (B), Cancellieri (L), Odgaard (B), Heggem (B), Provstgaard (L)
RED CARDS: –
