Lazio vs Bologna

A place in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals is at stake as Lazio and Bologna lock horns in a competitive-looking last-16 tie at the Stadio Olimpico.

It’s not been the most eventful start to the new calendar year for Lazio, yet after going winless in their opening two Serie A matches of 2023 (D1, L1), they claimed a vital 2-0 win at Sassuolo last time out. That’s a platform to build on, but Maurizio Sarri’s men have blown hot and cold across their last five competitive home outings (W1, D3, L1), most recently drawing 2-2 with Serie A bottom-half side Empoli. Bologna’s visit could turn Lazio’s fortunes around, considering ‘I Biancocelesti’ have won their last four home meetings with ‘I Rossoblu,’ netting 2+ goals on each occasion while conceding just two in total.

On the other hand, visiting Bologna eked out a come-from-behind 2-1 victory at Udinese last weekend, ending a two-game winless start to the new calendar year (D1, L1). Used to tight, evenly-contested affairs, the visitors have seen their three Serie A fixtures in 2023 yield a single-goal margin. But that doesn’t necessarily exclude the prospect of a high-scoring contest, as witnessed by the fact six of Bologna’s last seven Serie A outings have produced over 2.5 total goals. Unfortunately for manager Thiago Motta, consistency hasn’t been his team’s ally on the road, with ‘I Rossoblu’ alternating between winning (2) and losing (3) across their last five domestic travels.