Head-to-Head Summary
Recent Serie A meetings between Bologna and Lazio have evolved into tightly contested affairs where home advantage and tactical discipline play decisive roles. Over their last 10 top-flight encounters, Lazio hold a slight edge with five victories, while Bologna have won three times alongside two draws.
Bologna had kept clean sheets in five consecutive home league games against Lazio before the Roman side broke that streak in March 2026. Given that only two of the last seven Serie A meetings have resulted in Lazio victories, Bologna have proven to be a difficult opponent for the capital club in recent seasons.
Last 10 Meetings
22 Mar 2026 | Serie A | Bologna 0-2 Lazio
24 Nov 2025 | Serie A | Lazio 3-0 Bologna
18 May 2025 | Serie A | Lazio 1-1 Bologna
24 Nov 2024 | Serie A | Lazio 3-0 Bologna
18 Feb 2024 | Serie A | Lazio 1-2 Bologna
03 Nov 2023 | Serie A | Bologna 1-0 Lazio
11 Mar 2023 | Serie A | Bologna 0-0 Lazio
19 Jan 2023 | Coppa Italia | Lazio 1-0 Bologna
14 Aug 2022 | Serie A | Lazio 2-1 Bologna
12 Feb 2022 | Serie A | Lazio 3-0 Bologna
In their most recent clash on March 22, 2026 at the Dall'Ara, Lazio claimed a 2-0 away victory courtesy of a second-half double from midfielder Kenneth Taylor. Prior to that setback, Bologna had established a strong defensive track record against Lazio on home soil.
Bologna Current Form
Bologna enter Matchweek 1 determined to improve upon their opening-day track record. The Rossoblù have managed just one win from their previous nine Serie A season openers (D3, L5). New head coach Domenico Tedesco must also address home consistency: Bologna picked up 12 fewer points at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara than on their travels last season, the largest such discrepancy in Europe's top five leagues.
Offensively, Bologna continue to lean on talismanic winger Riccardo Orsolini, who has achieved double-figure goal tallies in four consecutive Serie A seasons. Tedesco's primary objective will be organizing defensive structure in transition to make the Dall'Ara a fortress once again.
Lazio Current Form
Lazio travel to Bologna searching for a quick response after a nightmarish competitive start to Gennaro Gattuso's tenure. The Biancocelesti suffered a shocking 2-0 home defeat to Serie B side Mantova in the Coppa Italia preliminary round last weekend, exposing clear early-season vulnerabilities in midfield and transition defense.
Furthermore, Lazio struggled for goals toward the end of last term, failing to score in four of their final five competitive fixtures of the 2025/26 campaign. Away from home, Lazio operated in low-scoring affairs last season, with a league-low three away matches producing over 2.5 goals. Having lost their opening league match last season, Gattuso's men face the prospect of opening consecutive Serie A campaigns with defeats for the first time in 42 years if they fail to perform on Monday.
Bologna Team News and Injuries
Domenico Tedesco must monitor a couple of central defensive fitness concerns ahead of his debut selection:
Martin Vitík: Questionable with a minor muscular strain.
Nicolò Casale: Managing a knock sustained in pre-season and faces a late fitness test.
Riccardo Orsolini & Santiago Castro: Both key attackers are fully fit and expected to start in the frontline.
Lazio Team News and Injuries
Gennaro Gattuso travels north with several confirmed injury absences across key positions:
Alessio Romagnoli: Ruled out of the trip due to a muscular injury.
Gustav Isaksen: Unavailable for selection with a thigh strain.
Danilo Cataldi: Sidelined in midfield due to a lingering ankle issue.
Mattia Zaccagni & Kenneth Taylor: Both are fully fit and available to lead the attacking unit.
Tactical Match Analysis
This Matchweek 1 encounter features a tactical clash between Domenico Tedesco's high-pressing, vertical possession game and Gennaro Gattuso's intense 4-3-3 shape. Tedesco is expected to set up Bologna in a fluid 4-2-3-1, relying on Remo Freuler and Nikola Moro to anchor the midfield while encouraging wingers Riccardo Orsolini and Jonathan Rowe to press high and cut inside onto their stronger feet.
Lazio under Gattuso will focus on direct wide play and mid-block compact structure. With Romagnoli sidelined, Patric and Oliver Provstgaard will likely form a makeshift central defensive pairing that could be tested by Santiago Castro's physical movement. Lazio's primary attacking outlet remains captain Mattia Zaccagni on the left flank, whose link-up play with Kenneth Taylor will be vital if Lazio hope to break down Bologna's mid-block.
Key Players to Watch
Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna): The Italian winger is Bologna's primary goal threat, having hit double digits in four straight Serie A campaigns. Five of his last six club goals have been the second goal of the match.
Santiago Castro (Bologna): The energetic young striker brings relentless pressing and physical hold-up play, serving as the focal point for Tedesco's attacking transitions.
Kenneth Taylor (Lazio): The Dutch midfielder scored both goals in Lazio's 2-0 victory over Bologna at the Dall'Ara in March 2026 and provides crucial box-to-box energy.
Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio): Lazio's talismanic winger scored his only Serie A career brace against Bologna, and Lazio have won each of his last 14 goalscoring appearances.
What the Numbers Tell Us
Recent H2H: Bologna have lost just two of their last seven Serie A encounters against Lazio (W3, D2).
Opening Day Struggle: Bologna have won only one of their last nine Serie A opening-day fixtures (D3, L5).
Low-Scoring Trend: Only two of Bologna's last nine home league matches saw both teams score.
Lazio Away Metrics: A league-low three Lazio away matches produced over 2.5 goals in Serie A last season.
Zaccagni's Streak: Lazio have won 14 consecutive matches in which Mattia Zaccagni has scored.
Who Has the Advantage?
Evaluating current statistical trends and squad availability gives Bologna a slight edge heading into Matchweek 1. While Lazio claimed a 2-0 victory at the Dall'Ara in March 2026, Gattuso's side enter opening day under pressure following an embarrassing Coppa Italia exit and must navigate key injuries to Romagnoli and Isaksen.
Bologna possess tactical continuity in attack through Orsolini and Castro, and Tedesco's side will look to exploit Lazio's unproven central defense. However, given Bologna's historical opening-day struggles and Lazio's low-scoring away tendencies, a tight, low-scoring draw represents a very realistic alternative outcome.
Conclusion
Matchweek 1 of the 2026/27 Serie A season concludes with a captivating battle at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara as Bologna and Lazio launch new managerial eras. Domenico Tedesco's Bologna enter as narrow favorites owing to home stability and Lazio's early-season struggles, but Gennaro Gattuso's side possess individual match-winners in Zaccagni and Taylor capable of turning the game. Expect a cagey, tactical battle in Emilia-Romagna where defensive discipline will ultimately determine who starts the campaign on a high note.