Lazio vs Bologna preview

August 21, 2015
By: Nemanja Lazarevic

Lazio vs BolognaBuoyed by the Champions League play-off win over Bayer Leverkusen, Lazio will be looking to start the Serie A campaign with a triumph as well.

Newly-promoted Bologna aim to prove they have what it takes to play at this level and the recent arrival of Mattia Destro will serve as an additional boost.

Lazio recruited Stefano Pioli and several high-profile players last summer with the sole aim of securing Champions League qualification, and the club eventually succeeded in their quest.

The Biancocelesti were unable to clinch automatic berth, mostly due to the derby defeat to AS Roma, and were in turn pitted against Bayer Leverkusen in the play-offs.

Meanwhile, the club secured a number of quality footballers without spending too much money, and no doubt that the likes of Milinkovic-Savic, Kishna, Morrison, Hoedt and Patric will improve the quality of the squad.

However, with both Miroslav Klose and Filip Djordjevic struggling through injury, Lazio may need to add another quality striker to their ranks.

The Biancocelesti began the new season with a 2-0 defeat to Juventus in the Italian Super Cup match, but they then recorded a 1-0 triumph over Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg at Stadio Olimpico.

And even though the return match at Bay Arena has the priority at the moment, Lazio can be backed at 1.50 (1/2) to defeat Bologna on Saturday evening.

In addition to the two strikers, first choice goalkeeper Federico Marchetti misses out as well, while Stefan de Vrij might not be risked having just returned from injury.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Berisha – Basta, Mauricio, Gentiletti, Radu – Parolo, Cataldi, Lulic – Candreva, Keita, Anderson.

Bologna secured the return to the elite division after spending just one season in Serie B, even if they narrowly won the two play-off ties.

Felsinei have since signed quite a few players with Serie A experience, with Ibrahima M’Baye, Antonio Mirante, Franco Brienza and Lorenzo Crisetig just some of the summer recruits.

Meanwhile, the club produced a real coup by signing Italy striker Mattia Destro for mere €6.5 million from AS Roma, and it is this piece of transfer business that could make all the difference to the upcoming season.

Bologna did not enjoy the best of starts, having suffered a home defeat to Pavia in the Coppa Italia clash, but they are 2.88 (17/9) not to lose at Stadio Olimpico.

Everything suggests that Mattia Destro will slot straight into the starting line-up, but Ibrahima Mbaye is banned and Luca Rizzo is out through an ankle injury.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-1-2): Mirante – Ferrari, Oikonomou, Rossettini, Masina – Brighi, Crisetig, Pulgar – Brienza – Destro, Acquafresca.

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