Lazio began their 2026/27 Serie A campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, giving new head coach Gennaro Gattuso his first competitive win in charge.
The visitors made the stronger start, with Mattia Zaccagni sending an early effort wide before Matteo Cancellieri tested Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski from distance.
Bologna gradually grew into the contest and threatened through Roberto Piccoli, whose effort after a corner narrowly missed the target.
Lazio then appeared to have taken the lead when Boulaye Dia finished calmly past Skorupski, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
The game remained goalless at half-time, but Bologna created the first major chance after the restart.
Jens Odgaard met a cross with a close-range header, only for Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas to produce an excellent save.
Lazio finally broke the deadlock shortly before the hour mark.
Davide Frattesi had only just entered the game when he combined brilliantly with Dia, collecting the striker’s clever back-heel inside the box before calmly firing into the bottom corner.
Bologna pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages.
Federico Bernardeschi came close with a curling free-kick that Mandas tipped onto the post, while Eivind Helland saw another opportunity cleared off the line by Frattesi.
Despite sustained pressure from the hosts, Lazio held firm to secure three valuable points and hand Gattuso a winning start in the league.
Bologna, meanwhile, will look to respond when they visit Atalanta next Monday.
The result extends their poor record in Serie A opening rounds, with the Rossoblu having won only once in their last 10 season openers.
Lazio return home to face Genoa in their next league fixture, hoping to build on an encouraging away victory.
Player of the Match: Christos Mandas (Lazio)
