A cup blow for Gattuso ahead of the Serie A opener: prediction for Bologna vs Lazio — 24.08.2026
On Monday, August 24, 2026, Bologna will host Lazio at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium in the opening round of the new Serie A season. Kick-off is scheduled for 18:30 local time. Both teams enter the campaign following summer managerial changes: Domenico Tedesco has taken charge of the hosts, while the Romans are now led by Gennaro Gattuso. However, Lazio already received their first warning sign before the league even began, suffering a shock elimination from the Coppa Italia.
Bologna: Tedesco begins a rebuild after a turbulent summer
Bologna finished last season in eighth place. Following Vincenzo Italiano’s departure to Beşiktaş, the club entrusted the team to Domenico Tedesco, who signed a contract until summer 2028. At the same time, the squad underwent significant changes: John Lucumí and Santiago Castro departed, while newcomers include Artem Dovbyk, Roberto Piccoli, and Mikel Amondarayn.
Pre-season preparations were far from ideal for the hosts. Bologna wrapped up with a 0-1 defeat to Brighton, and their overall run of friendlies was inconsistent. Tedesco will have to pay special attention to home form: last season, Bologna picked up 12 points fewer at Dall’Ara than on the road—the worst such disparity among clubs in Europe’s big five leagues.
Nevertheless, the new coach has plenty of options in attack. Riccardo Orsolini remains a key figure, Jonathan Rowe can also operate on the flanks, and Dovbyk is battling Piccoli for the center-forward spot. At the moment, the Ukrainian striker is seen as the most likely starter.
Lazio: A promising pre-season ends in a cold shower
It’s a new era in Rome as well—Gennaro Gattuso has taken the helm. During pre-season, his side posted solid results: big wins over Flaminia (6-0), Avellino (6-3), Ascoli, Ostiamare (4-0), and Frosinone (2-1). However, the first official match completely changed the mood around the team.
On August 16, Lazio suffered a sensational 0-2 home defeat to Serie B side Mantova and crashed out of the Coppa Italia. Both goals were conceded late, and it was Gattuso’s first official game in charge. Now, the team’s response in Bologna is one of the main storylines of the opening round.
Lazio’s squad has also changed significantly over the summer. Ivan Provedel moved to Inter, Mario Gila to Milan, but Davide Frattesi, Danilho Doekhi, and Alfonso Pedraza have joined. As a result, Gattuso could hand several new signings their debuts right from the first whistle.
Squad status and probable lineups
Official starting XIs have yet to be announced, of course. According to the latest from Sky Sport, Bologna have no players definitively ruled out, though Martin Vitik has recently recovered from a muscle injury—his expected return date is August 24. For Lazio, Sky lists Gustav Isaksen, Alessio Romagnoli, Danilo Cataldi, and Patric as unavailable. No suspensions have been reported for this match.
Meanwhile, Mattia Zaccagni’s status should be monitored up to matchday: the latest injury tracker indicated a muscle issue and a projected return on August 23, but Sky still predicts the Lazio captain will start.
- Probable Bologna lineup: Skorupski — Zortea, Heggem, Helland, Miranda — Ferguson, El Azzouzi, Bernardeschi — Orsolini, Dovbyk, Rowe.
- Probable Lazio lineup: Mandas — Marusic, Doekhi, Provstgaard, Pedraza — Taylor, Rovella, Frattesi — Noslin, Dia, Zaccagni.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- In the teams’ most recent meeting at Renato Dall’Ara, on March 22, 2026, Lazio won 2-0 thanks to a brace from Kenneth Taylor.
- Two of the last three head-to-heads ended in draws: 1-1 in Serie A in December 2025, and 1-1 in the Coppa Italia in February 2026.
- Historically, the rivalry is almost dead even: Bologna have 61 wins, Lazio 60, and there have been 45 draws.
- Bookmakers make the hosts slight favorites: a Bologna win is priced around 2.20, a draw at 3.20, and a Lazio win at 3.40.
Lazio’s cup disaster tips the balance toward the hosts: Bologna vs Lazio prediction
Backing a straight Bologna win here is a risky proposition. The team is still adapting to Tedesco’s methods, pre-season form was patchy, and last season’s home record shows that Dall’Ara hasn’t always offered the expected advantage.
But there are even more question marks around Lazio. Gattuso’s squad has undergone major changes, several players are unavailable, and the 0-2 home defeat to a Serie B side was a rough first official test. The Romans could bounce back after their cup exit, but it’s hard to trust them away against an opponent of similar quality right now.
Bologna enjoy more favorable conditions to start the season and, according to the bookies, are deservedly considered favorites. However, the recent history between the teams and both sides’ instability suggest a draw is a real possibility. That’s why the best bet looks to be the hosts with insurance.
Prediction: Bologna will not lose (1X).
