Preview: Bologna vs Lazio - prediction, team news, lineups

Both starting again under new management, Bologna and Lazio will kick off their Serie A season on Monday, when the clubs clash at Stadio Dall'Ara.

After enduring a tough spell in charge of his national team, Gennaro Gattuso recently made an awful start as Biancocelesti boss.

Match preview

Having finished ninth in Serie A last term, Lazio had to enter the first round of this season's Coppa Italia, as only the top eight clubs receive a bye to round three.

After losing the 2026 cup final on home turf, fans may have been expecting another deep run, but instead their team were dumped out by second-tier Mantova.

Gattuso's first competitive game ended in dismal defeat, as Lazio conceded two late goals, which the ex-Italy manager later described as a "punch in the face."

Amid an ongoing fan boycott, and with Gattuso picking up the pieces after Maurizio Sarri's acrimonious exit, the Rome club are clearly enduring a difficult period.

Other sides - including Champions League-bound rivals Roma - will soon enter European competition but the Biancocelesti must stay at home for a second straight year.

That only leaves the league to focus on over the upcoming months, starting with a trip to Bologna on Serie A's opening matchday.

Though Kenneth Taylor's brace secured victory on their last visit to the Dall'Ara in March, Lazio have lost two of their last three season openers.

Meanwhile, Bologna have won just one of their last nine, including a 2-1 loss to Lazio four years ago.

New coach Domenico Tedesco will aim to end that trend on Monday, as he seeks maximum points from his first competitive match.

After leading the Rossoblu to Coppa Italia glory in 2025, then to the Europa League knockout phase and an eighth-place finish in Serie A last season, Vincenzo Italiano left for Besiktas.

Former Fenerbahce boss Tedesco - who previously managed Belgium - has since overseen substantial change to Bologna's squad, with several stars being picked off by bigger clubs.

Though Italiano was well regarded, Tedesco must start by fixing the Rossoblu's home form: they posted 12 fewer points at the Dall'Ara than from away games during the 2025-26 campaign.

Not only was that the biggest difference across Europe's top five leagues, but only relegated pair Pisa and Verona recorded more home defeats in Serie A.

So, having finished pre-season with an away loss to Brighton, Bologna will aim to start a fresh page on their return to Emilia-Romagna.

Bologna pre-season form:

Lazio form (all competitions):

Team News

Though key players such as Jhon Lucumi and Santiago Castro have left Bologna, summer signings Mikel Amondarain, Artem Dovbyk and Roberto Piccoli will be available to make their debut on Monday.

With Castro gone, the latter pair must fight for one place up front; Jonathan Rowe and Riccardo Orsolini are set to provide support from either wing.

The Rossoblu's top scorer last term - reaching double figures for the fourth consecutive Serie A season - Orsolini recently signed a new contract.

While Nicolo Casale is the hosts' sole fitness doubt, Lazio could be missing Gustav Isaksen and Patric, plus Danilo Cataldi, who has been nursing a groin problem.

Mario Gila has left for Milan, and first-choice goalkeeper Ivan Provedel joined Inter, but new boys Davide Frattesi, Danilo Doekhi and Alfonso Pedraza may all start; it remains to be seen if Josip Sutalo signs in time.

After Isaksen and veteran winger Pedro top-scored last term with just five league goals each, Tedesco will hope to find the right recipe up front.

Petar Ratkov - who scored six in pre-season - and Tijjani Noslin are both contenders, but Boulaye Dia started the Coppa Italia defeat to Mantova.

Bologna possible starting lineup:

Skorupski; Zortea, Vitik, Heggem, Miranda; Moro, Ferguson; Orsolini, Bernardeschi, Rowe; Dovbyk

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Mandas; Marusic, Doekhi, Provstgaard, Pedraza; Frattesi, Rovella, Taylor; Cancellieri, Dia, Zaccagni