Lazio failed to carry forward their recent momentum as they fell in another frustrating defeat to Thiago Motta’s Bologna.
The Biancocelesti picked up a league win over Cagliari and an unexpected Champions League Round of 16 first leg win over Bayern Munich over the last week, giving them a key boost in confidence after a tough spell following the Supercoppa Italiana.
Bologna have been one of the surprises of the season under Motta, putting themselves firmly in the conversation of a Champions League finish. They’d only lost twice in the last three months prior to their trip to Rome, looking confident and assured.
Bologna had the first real chance of the match at the Stadio Olimpico, but Lazio were quick to respond and thought they’d taken the lead in the 13th minute, when Ciro Immobile spilled onto a pass in the box and poked the ball home, but a VAR check ruled it off for offside.
The home side found their goal just four minutes later, however. A break forward and a nice pass from Immobile allowed Gustav Isaksen to blast the ball into the back of the net, putting Lazio 1-0 up over Bologna.
Lazio continued playing well in the first half, with Isaksen having another close chance, but a mistake at the back from Ivan Provedel allowed Oussama El Azzouzi to poke the ball home, drawing the Rossoblu level.
In the second half, Bologna came out with more fire and had control in the match, leaving the Biancocelesti on the back foot in front of a frustrated crowd.
Motta’s side eventually found their second goal in the 78th minute, when Joshua Zirkzee’s impressive half-volley from the penalty spot left Provedel rooted to the spot as it flew into the corner, making it 2-1 to the visitors.
Lazio couldn’t respond and ultimately left embittered, picking up nothing despite a decent first-half performance, stifling their momentum.
