Lazio opened their Serie A account for the season with a 2-1 victory over newboys Bologna.

Lucas Biglia struck first for the hosts inside 16 minutes before summer recruit Ricardo Kishna doubled their advantage eight minutes later. Matteo Mancosu halved the deficit minutes before the break, but, despite late pressure on the Lazio goal, the visitors did not pose enough of a threat to claim a scalp on their return to Serie A action.

Lazio establish early dominance 

For all the pre-match cries of fatigue after their midweek exertions in Europe, Lazio settled into their rhythm remarkably quickly and stamped their authority on proceedings.

Ricardo Kishna, a new recruit from Ajax, was showing promise down the left, delivering a pair of tantalising crosses and striking an effective rapport with left-back Stefan Radu.

His crosses amounted to little, but it was his lofted pass that engendered Lazio's first opportunity of the half. Interchanging with Antonio Candreva on the opposite flank, Kishna sent a delicious ball into the path of the Italian who, having sent his header into the ground, ought to have worked Antonio Mirante between the Bologna sticks.

Candreva, then, worked himself half a yard from a short corner and stung the palms of the goalkeeper. Though Lazio's siege didn't stop there.

Dusan Basta was released down the right and delivered a wicked cross into the box. Keita Balde was first to react though could not bring the ball under control, but his wayward touch rolled into the path of captain Lucas Biglia who stroked the ball into the bottom corner.

Six minutes later, Pioli's side had doubled their lead. Using the wide areas to good effect, Candreva sent his cross to the back post and, after Bologna had failed clear the ball to safety, newboy Kishna arrived at the far stick, steadied himself and lashed his effort into the bottom corner.

Bologna grab a lifeline

Despite creating little throghout the opening 45 minutes, Delio Rossi's side halved the deficit through Matteo Mancosu four minutes from the interval.

The 30-year-old sprung the offside trap, raced towards goal and crashed his effort off the underside of the bar and across the goal-line.

Lazio lay seige, but Bologna stand firm

Lazio's hegemony continued into the second period, as Bologna, buoyed by their late first-half strike, searched from an equaliser.

However, the Rossoblu offered little penetration in attack and it was Lazio who were presented with several opportunities to extend their lead.

Kishna, just like he picked out Candreva early in the first-half, spotted Eden Lulic’s darting run in behind the Bologna backline, but his cross was expertly cut out by Marios Oikonomou.

The centre-back yet again was forced to save Bologna's blushes when he denied a goalward effort from Kishna after a mazy Keita run. 

Minutes later, Candreva slalomed through the right-hand side of Bologna's and sent a curling effort towards goal, but Mirante was equal to it and palmed the ball to safety.

Bologna pushed forward, with young left-back Adam Masina posing a threat down Lazio's right-hand side. 

But it was Lazio who continued to carve out the best chances. Danilo Cataldi, who replaced the injured Biglia midway through the second-half, forced a save from the Bologna No.1 before Felipe Anderson, rested for Wednesday evening's encounter with Bayer Leverkusen, played a lovely give-and-go with Keita before lifting his effort over the bar.

Lazio, though, seemed in complete control and could not be blamed for having one eye on Wednesday evening's clash in the Uefa Champions League.

Pioli's side survive late scare

They could have been left with egg on their face in stoppage time, however, when Berisha, a spectator for most of the night, was forced into an acrobatic save from Matteo Brighi. Franco Brienza fired two efforts towards goal and his second was met with Brienza's forehead.

In the end, Pioli's side clung on and will travel to Germany having began their domestic campaign with a shaky, if not solid, showing.

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About the author
Craig Vickers
Milk, honey and Andy Murray. Email: craigvickers1998[at]outlook.com