Bologna drops 5 on Lazio as they move into Top four #2612
Bologna 5 Lazio 0FT
On Sunday afternoon, we would see a thrilling clash in Italian football. The league season is on the verge of coming to a close with only 10 matches to go. They have plenty still up for grabs in this last stretch of the season. As we prepare for a Champions League showdown with Bologna hosting Lazio. The two sides coming into Sunday are only separated by one. It could swing heavily in one direction or in another Lazio currently sits in 4th at the moment. They have had an up-and-down season. During the first half of the campaign, it looked as if Lazio was going to be a surprise candidate in the title race Marco Baroni looked like the manager of the season. At least it looked that way. At one point. The former Verona boss who only won 25% of his matches last season was a surprise appointment by Lazio. However, it looked like he was turning water into wine for part of the season. Then things started to slightly fall off. They have slid down the ladder as the title race became between Inter, Milan, and Napoli. However, they maintained their position in the Champions League picture for quite some time and still hold on to it. On top of that, they are the favorites for the Europa League at the moment. That being said, they have struggled with inconsistency. They lost the Derby to Rome and have dropped some significant points down the stretch. They only have one victory in their last five matches. Although they've done better than expected, they don't have too many difference-makers on the side to overcome a rut of bad form. However, they will test that resolve against Bologna who has had a polar opposite experience lately. Thiago Motta took Bologna to the Champions League last season. The best season the club has ever had in the modern era. He departed for Juventus and some of his players departed also. Vincenzo Italiano was given the job after having done a terrific job rejuvenating Fiorentina taking them to two European finals Even though they fell short on both occasions. This season they've had a mix of inconsistency and quality. However, under Italiano, they found themselves back within distance as a potential Champions League team this season for the second consecutive campaign. If they were to pull this off it would be somewhat of a miracle. Most of the time when teams are raided they're unable to keep it going. Bologna wants to be an exception to the rule. Riccardo Orsolini is the only player they have in double figures. However, they have built a well-balanced team as they have overcome The obstacles of losing some of the other pieces along the way. They have won three matches in a row as well as three of their last five. Only one loss over that stretch. A victory could take them into the top four if Juventus also loses. As Stadio Renato Dall'Ara would be the setting for this European clash between Lazio and Bologna.
Two evenly matched teams ready to take each other's hearts out. That is what was on the line and we saw that sort of tension fairly early on. In the 5th minute, Lazio looked to take their authority. Gustav lsaksen delivers a pass inside the box Mattéo Guendouzi follows through on a strike from close range that Rams into the Bologna defense. The possessional exchange was fairly even. Both sides moving the ball very well. However, despite lazio's early chance. It was Bologna that established themselves with a very strong start. In the 16th minute, Juan Miranda launched a ball into the box as pushing forward Jens Odgaard made an excellent run into the area. The ball comes across over his shoulder. He sticks his foot out getting attached to the end of it driving it into the bottom right corner as a bologna takes a 1-0 lead. It would be his sixth goal of a season The former Inter Milan academy graduate has found a home with Bologna as he has been one of the team's most important players in the attack. Bologna looked to grow in confidence. It only continued as they continued to play exceptionally well. At home, They were going to be tough to beat. However, Lazio more than capable of putting the pressure on. In the 29th minute, Santiago Castro sends a pass down the left link into the box Riccardo Orsolini whips a strike on goal Ivan Provedel comes up with the save. Near the end of the first half In the 40th minute Mario Gila delivers a ball into the box Adam Marusic strikes at a difficult angle. In 45th minute Juan Miranda follows through on a strike from outside the box as it clashes with the defense. Shortly after time would run out in the first half with Bologna holding a 1-0 lead thanks to Jens Odgaard.
Bologna happens to be handling the occasion very well. Outside of the chance, at the very beginning of the match Lazio haven't brought much to the table. With everything on the line and a lot at stake, they don't seem to be asserting themselves as aggressively enough. Although the first half has not generated a lot of chances, Lazio has come across behind the eight ball. However, if they can make some sort of statement at the beginning of the second half, this could shift very quickly. That being said, it also very easily could go back the other way. Bologna started the second half incredibly well. They answered the pending question of whether or not Lazio could find their way back into the match. That notion was silenced very quickly. In the 48th minute Dan Ndoye delivered a through ball into the box Riccardo Orsolini cuts in down the left side as the goalkeeper comes out. Heat chips it over the goalkeeper into the top right corner as Bologna have opened up a 2-0 lead. It would be his 11th goal of the season. Less than 60 seconds later it would happen yet again. In the 49th minute, Lewis Ferguson takes it forward on the counter-attack he then creates separation as he cuts into the box and he sends a pass over to the top of the area Dan Ndoye steps up to it as he buries it into the back of the net Bologna now lead 3-0 the seventh goal of the season for the Swiss attacking midfielder. The domination continued and continued. In the 56th minute, Dan Ndoye facilitated a ball into the box Remo Freuler struck the ball into the Lazio defense. Lazio then takes it down the other end Mattia Zaccagni strikes from a distance. He sends it into the bottom post and what has been the best chance of the evening for the blue side of Rome. In the 60th minute, Davide Calabria struck from outside the box as it coasted over the goal. Bologna continues to create chances for themselves displaying their level of control. 10 minutes later bologna looked to extend the lead further Santiago Castro sent a ball into the box Riccardo Orsolini came close as he struck in the side narrowly putting it over the corner. They go for it again a minute later. Juan Miranda feeds Santiago Castro at the side of the box He follows through but sends it into the opposing defense. In the 75th minute, they continue to humiliate Lazio. Tommaso Pobega sends a ball into the box. Santiago Castro collects the ball before sending it into the bottom corner as they have scored again. Siding now a 4-0 victory for Bologna. His 10th goal of the season and his 17th goal involvement. This campaign not too shabby for a debut campaign in Italy. In the 84th minute, bologna kicked Lazio in the throat one more time. Juan Miranda delivers a cross into the box Giovanni Fabbian flies through the air as he rises putting the ball into the top corner as Bologna takes a 5-0 lead with his third goal of the season. Lazio tried to stop the bleeding and at least get a goal before the end of it. In the 86th minute, Loum Tchaouna strikes from outside the box Lukasz Skorupski makes the diving save Arijon Ibrahimovic tries the follow-up as his strike on goal hits into the Bologna defense Arijon Ibrahimovic then catches it again this time from distance but the result would be the same as bologna defensively closed down on the effort. In the 92nd minute Nicolò Rovella collects the ball from the left side as he drives it towards the corner Lukasz Skorupski comes up with another save. The referee blows his whistle as Bologna eviscerates Lazio with a 5-0 victory as they move up in the table.
Not only does Bologna annihilate one of their direct competitors for the Champions League positions. On top of that, a little luck blows their way. Juventus was also taken to the shed as Fiorentina dispatched them with a 3-0 victory. This weekend directly helped both Bologna + Roma. We could live in a world at the end of the season, in which both Roma and Bologna finish in the top five. One of which qualified for the Champions League and the other finished in the Europa League position while the likes of Lazio and Juventus will have to finish in the conference league or miss out on Europe together. The point difference has been minimized extensively. While Roma made a jump from 15th to 7th. If either of these two sides ends up qualifying for the Europa League or the Champions League, it will be a wonderful story. Lazio and Juventus have shown their inefficiencies this season and have completely fallen apart. Bologna lost several starters last season. On top of that, they lost the coach that took them to the Champions League. They have since brought in Vincenzo Italiano and he has taken them right back where they were last season. If they finish 5th they would match what they did last season. If they finish above that then it's a whole different ball game. This would be considered the best season they've ever had in the modern era. Also, it could potentially expose Thiago Motta as the orchestrator of the historic season. Bologna was off to the races from the very beginning. They humiliated Lazio beyond belief. This is the second time Lazio has conceded at least five goals in a match. This highlights a very important attribute to Lazio this season. We've learned two things potentially from this. Marco Baroni isn't as good as it looked like he was earlier in the season. As it turns out, there were plenty of reasons to be critical of Lazio making that appointment. Even though things went well during the first half of the season, he is showing exactly why he only won 25% of his matches last season. The Champions League should be all but knotted up. They were in third and Roma was in 15th. Now Roma is in 7th and Lazio is in 6th. I don't want to make this about Roma, but the reality is it only further highlights how inconsistent they have been in the last few months. The Europa League is going to be a tough one to crack, but if results don't start to change quickly, They could end up with nothing. No Champions League either through the league or the Europa League. Blazio has bigger problems than they care to admit that entire back line needs to go. The goalkeeper needs to go. Several portions of the Midfield also need to go. Even though they have done well this season at times what we're seeing from the team. Collectively they have problems all over the place. There are teams below them in the table that have fewer problems or at least they appear to have fewer problems. They don't have a superstar. They have good players but they're not well balanced. They have a coach that's over his head and for the second time this season, they've lost by five goals or more. They have One victory in the last five. This was away from home but to be dogged. The way they were says a lot about Bologna's quality but also lazio's inefficiencies. As Lazio drop a big ball in the Champions League race. Bologna up to 4th following a 5-0 victory at home against Champions League rival Lazio.
