Game 19, Serie A
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Stadio Dall'Ara, Bologna
Bologna Lazio 0-0
A bland goalless draw between two teams in difficulty
So far, Lazio had played 18 games. The Biancocelesti had won 6, drawn 5 and lost 7. Reja however had won on his debut five days earlier beating Inter 1-0 at home. Lazio were on 23 points, just above mid-table in 8th place.
The match
A cold, January, Saturday night attracted a 15,000 crowd to the game.
Lazio were without Stefan Radu who was suspended and replaced by Senad Lulic at left back. Bologna had no absences.
The first half was very blocked with both teams prioritising not conceding goals. The game was far from spectacular and low in intensity and quality. Bologna at least tried to create something and generally seemed more determined despite their limits. Alessandro Diamanti had a couple of innocuous shots from the distance but they did not trouble Etrit Berisha. Then in the 28th minute the home side had the only real goal scoring chance of the first half. Gyorgy Garics put in a low cross which Rolando Bianchi backheeled on the volley towards goal and Berisha saved with his foot. Half time Bologna 0 Lazio 0.
Bologna were poor and Lazio were even worse. The Biancocelesti concentrated on defending and when they occasionally proposed anything they were slow, mechanical and error strewn.
For the second half Reja threw on Balde Keita for an uninspired Felipe Anderson.
Not much changed, Lazio and Bologna continued to disappoint any hope of some entertainment. After an hour of both teams being extremely tight there was gradually slightly more space to manoeuvre. Nothing to get excited about but at least the possibility of some action.
In the 70th minute Lazio finally had a chance and it was a huge one. On an Antonio Candreva cross, Miro Klose only had to bury it, but incredibly put it over the bar with his left foot. An unusual mistake by the German striker.
There followed two substitutions, one per side, defender Marek Cech came on for Nicolò Cherubin and Ederson replaced Candreva. Then in the 80th minute midfielder Rene Krhin came on for Archimede Morleo.
Bologna then had a chance to win it. With ten minutes remaining Diamanti crossed and Panagiotis Kone's brilliant volley went extremely close to the post, with Berisha beaten.
In the 90th minute Eddy Onazi replaced Tata Gonzalez but the game had already said what it had to say, not much. Final score Bologna 0 Lazio 0.
A feeble performance by both teams, neither deserved to win and not a great advert for Serie A. On this evening’s evidence Bologna would have trouble staying in the top flight and Lazio would have to be more positive and adventurous to get more out of their players, some of whom were certainly capable of more.
The Bologna fans at the end of the match in protest chanted, "we deserve more than this". We all did.
Who played for Bologna
Curci, Antonsson, Natali, Cherubin (72'Cech), Garics, Pazienza, Christodoulopoulos, Kone, Morleo (80' Krhin), Diamanti, Bianchi
Substitutes: Stojanovic, Agliardi, Radakovic, Della Rocca, Laxalt, Perez, Cristaldo, Moscardelli, Acquafresca
Manager: Ballardini
Who played for Lazio
Berisha, Cavanda, Biava, Dias, Lulic, Candreva (72' Ederson), A. Gonzalez (90' Onazi), Ledesma, Hernanes, Felipe Anderson (46' Keita), Klose
Manager: Reja
Referee: Celi
Sources
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