Lazio Begins Serie A Campaign Under Pressure with New Signing

Lazio opens its 2026-27 Serie A campaign under pressure after an early elimination from the Coppa Italia to Mantova, a second‑division side. The clash against Bologna marks the start of Gennaro Gattuso’s tenure in the national league, with strong scrutiny from the board. The match at the Dall’Ara stadium is viewed as a decisive test for the coach’s future with the club.

Pressure on Gennaro Gattuso after early elimination

Gattuso took over Lazio after Maurizio Sarri’s departure, but his start has already been turbulent. The loss and subsequent exit from the Coppa Italia against Mantova, a Serie B club, cost the team a key objective for the season and angered club president Claudio Lotito. In this context, the opening league match against Bologna takes on a decisive tone for the coach’s tenure, with speculation about his dismissal already circulating. Gattuso remained calm, analyzed the mistakes with the players, and chose to keep the offensive 4-3-3 tactical setup used in pre‑season.

Davide Frattesi’s debut as a starter

The big news for the match is the starting line‑up of midfielder Davide Frattesi from the first minute. The main signing for Lazio in the transfer window, coming on loan from Inter Milan with an option to buy, only played a few minutes in the Coppa Italia because he had just arrived. After a full week of training, he is ready to take a spot in midfield alongside Rovella and Taylor, replacing Dele‑Bashiru. The coach hopes the player will bring the technical progress needed for the sector, considered one of the most interesting in the league.

Squad changes for the new season

Besides Frattesi, Lazio reinforced its ranks with defender Josip Sutalo from Ajax and free agents Danilho Doekhi and Alfonso Pedraza. However, Sutalo was not listed for the match as he is not yet in optimal physical condition. Defenders Romagnoli and Tavares, recovered from injuries, start on the bench, though they are still linked to leaving the club. On the other hand, Bologna also underwent changes, signing Roberto Piccoli, Artem Dovbyk, Mikel Amondarain and Rahim Alhassane, after losing Santiago Castro to Roma and Jhon Lucumi to Juventus.

Recent history and team objectives

Both teams aim to improve performance compared to the previous Serie A season. In the last edition, Bologna finished in eighth place, three points away from a Conference League spot, while Lazio finished just behind, with three points less than the rival. Bologna also starts the competition with a new manager, Domenico Tedesco, hired to replace Vincenzo Italiano.

Information from OneFootball, La Gazzetta dello Sport.