Lazio just snagged a massive 1-0 away victory over Bologna to kick off their Serie A campaign, bouncing back hard after that shocking Coppa Italia elimination just eight days prior. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement at the Renato Dall’Ara, marking their third “enchanting outing” in Bologna this year. Davide Frattesi, barely on the pitch, ended up the hero, netting the solitary goal minutes after subbing in during the second half.
Mandas Saves The Day, Frattesi Seals It
Look, the game itself was a tight, balanced affair, not a ton of chances, but when Bologna did threaten, Christos Mandas was an absolute wall. This guy earned an 8 rating, and seriously, he had no business stopping Jens Odgaard’s free header, but he somehow got there. He was brave, beating Jonathan Rowe to the ball and flat-out denying a dangerous free kick from Federico Bernardeschi. A clean sheet against that kind of pressure? That’s championship-level stuff. It set the stage for Boulaye Dia to link up early with Mattia Zaccagni, then drop a sublime backheel assist for Frattesi. Just minutes after getting on the field, Frattesi found the net, turning a decent road trip into a glorious one.
New Faces and Early Season Scuffles
While Mandas and Frattesi are getting the glory, we saw some interesting stuff elsewhere on the pitch. Danilho Doekhi, the big Dutch defender, had a convincing Serie A debut, battling physically and winning against Roberto Piccoli and Artem Dovbyk. That’s a huge positive! Alfonso Pedraza, making his Serie A bow, put in an industrious shift, keeping Riccardo Orsolini quiet. On the flip side, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru? Rough night, man. A 4.5 rating tells you everything you need to know; he was wasteful and off the pace, leaving injured in the second period after being pretty ineffective. And Matteo Cancellieri, the winger, almost cost them dearly with a lost possession, and then fouled his own compatriot, leading to his half-time exit. Adam Marusic, the stalwart, also had a short night, picking up a knock after only 15 minutes. It’s early, but some guys are already showing they’re ready, and others? Well, they’ve got work to do.
This valuable away victory gives Lazio serious momentum to build on. They showed grit, especially after that Coppa Italia disappointment. Next up, they’ve gotta keep this defensive intensity going, but more importantly, iron out those early season kinks on offense. Can they keep this energy, or will they let the lapses creep back in? Every game matters in Serie A, and starting strong like this, even with a few bumps, is what you need.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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