Lazio – Bologna: Thiago Motta’s Men Deliver Suckerpunch To Leave Sarri’s Lazio Exasperated (1-2)

Bologna overcame an early deficit at the Stadio Olimpico to deliver the perfect suckerpunch to go level on points with Atalanta in the Serie A table. It was a game where two avoidable mistakes led to the opening two goals. However, one sweeping move by Thiago Motta’s side was enough to see off Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio who appeared to be jaded by their landmark midweek European triumph over Bayern Munich.
Tactical analysis and match report by Gaurav Krishnan. 

The Italian capital of Rome has seen its flagship rival clubs share mixed yet successful fortunes over the course of the past few seasons. Just a stone’s throw before February, at the turn of the year, AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho was unceremoniously sacked despite guiding Roma to Conference League triumph in 2021/22 – the classic Mourinho third season implosion et al. His replacement, Daniele De Rossi, a club legend; a midfield general, and a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, has begun his stint as Roma boss rather favourably.

But over the shoulders of the Giallorossi, Lazio and the Biancocelesti have also been in a rebuild and resurgence – Simone Inzaghi guided the sky blue of Rome to two Supercoppa Italianas and one Coppa Italia before taking over the reins at Inter. Meanwhile, over at Italian minnows Bologna, De Rossi’s former partner in the double pivot for Italy, Thiago Motta has seen his own managerial adventure show fortuitous dividends. His Bologna side has defied the odds & become a side not to be f***ed with, typified by their manager’s ethos and more importantly their league position. It seems as though the midfielders of yore are now battling it . . .