Bologna host Lazio at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on 24 August 2026, a Serie A opener that puts two new managers on the spot immediately. Domenico Tedesco took charge at Bologna on 2 June 2026 after replacing Vincenzo Italiano, while Gennaro Gattuso arrived at Lazio on 23 June 2026 following Maurizio Sarri's departure. Both sides come in with zero points and no established rhythm, which makes this something of a philosophical experiment as much as a football match.
Tedesco and Gattuso have never met in a competitive fixture, so there is nothing in the archive to draw on. Bologna's pre-season was a mixed picture, with a 3-1 friendly win over SC Cambuur on 1 August followed by a 1-4 thumping at the hands of Pisa SC on 8 August where the attacking intent was visible but the backline conceded four without looking remotely organised. Lazio had a rougher run, going out of the Coppa Italia 0-2 to Mantova on 16 August before recovering with a 2-1 friendly win at Frosinone on 9 August and the Mantova result raised real questions about how quickly Gattuso's high intensity system can bed in.
Bologna are without Nicolo Casale through injury, a significant gap in their defensive shape with no obvious like for like cover. Lazio are without Gustav Isaksen, Patric and Danilo Cataldi, leaving the backline short and midfield rotation stretched from the first whistle. Gattuso will be working with repositioned or less experienced players from minute one, which is a real problem when you are trying to instil a press heavy system.
Tedesco is expected to set Bologna up in either a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, building patiently from the back and looking to exploit the space behind Lazio's press with quick vertical passes. Lewis Ferguson is the midfield engine, carrying the ball forward and linking defence to attack, while Riccardo Orsolini cuts inside from the right to deliver crosses and run in behind. New signing Artem Dovbyk leads the line, winning aerial duels and holding the ball up under pressure to bring runners into play. Gattuso's Lazio, meanwhile, want a 4-3-3 built on pressing hard and winning the ball high, with Mattia Zaccagni drifting inside from the left to combine in tight spaces, Boulaye Dia pressing from the front and running in behind on transitions and Nicolo Rovella anchoring midfield to distribute forward. Without Isaksen, Patric and Cataldi, though, the press loses its usual coordination and Bologna may find more time on the ball in central areas than Lazio would like.
Carrying through the press will be Ferguson's defining task: if he can repeatedly advance into Lazio's shape, it disrupts their structure at source, while Rovella must screen effectively to stop Dovbyk from dropping deep and connecting with Orsolini. On the right, Orsolini running at a backline missing Patric could be the match's most dangerous recurring situation, especially if Bologna switch play quickly to isolate full backs. Zaccagni and Dia can hurt Bologna on the counter but only if Lazio win the ball high enough to bypass the midfield.
Bologna should have time on the ball in the first twenty minutes, with Lazio's press likely to be disorganised early given three absentees. The visitors' absences also mean their compactness in the final third won't be at its best, which could allow Ferguson to arrive late into the area from deep or free up a third man run from the 8 position.
Lazio have historically dominated this fixture, racking up somewhere between 17 and 20 wins from roughly 36-40 meetings compared to Bologna's 8 or 9, though recent encounters in 2025/26 were much tighter, finishing 0-2 and 1-1, suggesting the gap has closed considerably.
Set pieces could matter more than usual given both sides are short in defence. Bologna will fancy delivering into the box where Dovbyk's aerial ability might unsettle a backline lacking Patric's aerial presence and experience defending crosses, while Zaccagni's left foot delivery from the flank could test a Bologna backline already missing Casale.
Bologna 2-1 Lazio. Tedesco's side should control possession comfortably enough to create openings through Orsolini's movement off the right and Dovbyk's ability to win second balls and Lazio's triple absence in defence and midfield limits their ability to sustain the press or cope with set piece deliveries. Ferguson carrying into the final third or Dovbyk winning aerial duels at corners are the likeliest routes to a second Bologna goal and against a makeshift Lazio backline at the Dall'Ara, Bologna win this.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
