January 17, 2016: Bologna-Lazio 2-2
- Dag Jenkins
- Jan 17
- 9 min read
A game of two halves
Bologna two up at the break but Lazio come back and clinch draw
Other games in January
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished an excellent 3rd under Stefano Pioli. They had qualified for a Champions League preliminary round but lost 1-3 to Bayer Leverkusen on aggregate.
This season Pioli was confirmed. The summer market had brought some new players: defenders Wesley Hoedt and Patric (both free agents) midfielders Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Genk) and Ravel Morrison (free agent) plus forwards Ricardo Kishna (Ajax) and Alessandro Matri (Milan-on loan).
Many players were leaving: keeper Thomas Strakosha (Salernitana-on loan), defenders Luís Pedro Cavanda (Trabzonspor), Michaël Ciani, Diego Novaretti and Lorik Cana (all end of contract), midfielders Ederson and Cristian Ledesma (both end of contract) and Álvaro González (Atlas-Mexico).
Not a great improvement to the squad, in fact Lazio were already out of the Champions League (or more like never got in). The Biancocelesti had lost the Italian Supercoppa final to Juventus, 0-2 in August, and were having an up and down start to Serie A.
So far Lazio were 9th, on 27 points. The Biancocelesti had won 8 (including Bologna 2-1), drawn 3 and lost 8 (including Chievo 0-4 and Napoli 0-5) They had yet to find some consistency. They however came from a good 3-1 away win at Fiorentina.
In the Europa League (after CL preliminary defeat), Lazio had got through the first group phase. The Biancocelesti won 4 (Rosenborg home and away 3-1, 2-0, Saint Étienne 3-2 and Dnipro 3-1 both at home) and drew 2 (Dnipro and Saint Étienne both 1-1 away). Lazio topped the group and would now play Galatasaray in February in the round of 32.
In the Coppa Italia in the last 16 Lazio had defeated Udinese 2-1 at home. Next would be Juventus at home in three days’ time on January 20 in the quarterfinal.
Bologna were newly promoted. The previous season the manager was first Diego López (1-38) and then former Lazio Delio Rossi (39-42 and playoffs). The Rossoblu finished 3rd but then won the playoffs (Avellino 4-2 and then Pescara in the final after two draws due to better league position). The top scorer was Daniele Cacia with 12 goals (11 in B). The squad included former Lazio Francelino Matuzalém (2008-13).
This season the manager was initially Rossi but he had been sacked after ten games (W2, L8) and in came Roberto Donadoni. The main new signings were: goalkeeper Antonio Mirante (Parma), defenders Ibrahima Mbaye (Inter), Luca Rossettini (Cagliari), Emil Krafth (Helsingborg), midfielders Erick Pulgar (Universidad Católica - Chile), Luca Rizzo (Sampdoria), Matteo Brighi (Sassuolo), Franco Brienza (Cesena), Amadou Diawara (San Marino), Emanuele Giaccherini (Sunderland - on loan), Godfred Donsah (Cagliari) plus forwards Mattia Destro (Roma) and Anthony Mounier (Montpellier). The Rossoblu had also recently brought in former Lazio forward, Sergio Floccari (Sassuolo).
Leaving were: goalkeeper Ferdinando Coppola (Verona), defender György Garics (Darmstadt), midfielders Michele Pazienza (Vicenza), Diego Pérez (retiring), Nenad Krstičić (Sampdoria - end of loan), Federico Casarini (Novara) Francelino Matuzalém (Verona), Daniele Bessa (Como), Karim Laribi (Sassuolo - end of loan), Marcel Buchel (Empoli) plus forwards Riccardo Improta (Cesena), Gianluca Sansone (Bari) and Daniele Cacia (Ascoli). A lot of comings and goings.
Bologna were currently joint 14th on 22 points with Torino. The Rossoblu had won 7, drawn 1 and lost 11 (including Lazio 1-2 in Rome on debut). Their last match had been a bad 0-1 home defeat to Chievo Verona but a week earlier they had won 1-0 away against Milan.
In Coppa Italia the Felsinei had crashed out in August losing 0-1 at home to 3rd tier Pavia.
A game between two inconsistent sides so anything could happen today.
The match: Sunday, January 17, 2016, Stadio Dall'Ara, Bologna
A pale sun and a classic 3 p.m. kick-off only brought just over 15,000 spectators to the Dall'Ara ground.
Lazio were without goalkeeper Federico Marchetti, defenders Dušan Basta, Santiago Gentiletti and Stefan de Vrij (the latter two out with long term injuries).
Bologna could not count on defender Luca Rizzo or midfielder Franco Brienza.
Bologna got off to a dream start and scored in the 2nd minute. A superb Emanuele Giaccherini freekick flew into the top right-hand corner. The Bologna midfielder had obviously studied Andrea Pirlo in training during their time together at Juventus.
Lazio's reaction was lame and based more on possession than concrete attacks. Bologna seemed to have more energy and covered the field better.
In the 18th minute the hosts scored again. Another Giaccherini freekick was headed clear but was then fed back into the area where a lucky ricochet favoured ex-Roma striker Mattia Destro who found himself unmarked near the penalty spot, 2-0
Lazio were flat and Bologna had two good chances to almost certainly put the game beyond Lazio's reach. Another former Roma player Matteo Brighi was first denied by Etrit Berisha and then had a shot go just wide.
Halftime came with Bologna well in control and 2-0 up.
During the break manager Stefano Pioli was almost forced to change something so he took off a subdued Marco Parolo and a static Filip Djordjevic and introduced Senad Lulic and Miro Klose.
Lazio were then livelier while Bologna could not keep up their first half rhythm. Daniele Gastaldello risked an own goal when his clumsy attempt to anticipate Klose went over the keeper but hit the post.
Lazio continued to push and in the 69th minute were awarded a penalty. Lulic crossed into the area to Klose who chested the ball down but was pulled down by Adam Masina who was also sent off. Antonio Candreva took the spot kick and with a brilliant "Panenka" chip beat Mirante, 2-1.
The Rossoblu were in difficulty and made two changes; in the 71st minute Juan Camilo Zúñiga for Giaccherini and a minute later Alex Ferrari (also former Roma) for Gastaldello.
Five minutes later Lazio equalised. In the 77th minute Klose dispossessed a defender and ran down the right wing where he pulled back a perfect low cross to incoming Lulic who smashed the ball in from just inside the area, 2-2.
Both sides made one more change; in the 82nd minute Lazio replaced Candreva with Felipe Anderson and two minutes later Bologna took off Destro and put on former Lazio, Sergio Floccari.
Both sides also seemed reasonably pleased with a draw but if anyone could have won it that was Lazio with Keita Balde.
A fair draw in the end. Bologna had dominated the first half but run out of steam. Lazio had not turned up in the first but revived in the second. Roberto Donadoni at least had a logical explanation to his team's performance while Pioli had to figure out why Lazio had approached the game so badly.
Lazio were still 9th, on 28 points while Bologna were still joint 14th, on 23 points now with Sampdoria (6 above relegation zone, Carpi on 17)
Who played for Bologna
Mirante, Rossettini, Oikonomou, Gastaldello (72' Ferrari), Masina, Taider, Diawara, Brighi, Mounier, Destro (84' Floccari), Giaccherini (71' Zuniga)
Substitutes: Da Costa, Stojanovic, Mbaye, Donsah, Crisetig, Zuculini, Pulgar, Acquafresca, Falco
Manager: Donadoni
Who played for Lazio
Berisha, Konko, Mauricio, Hoedt, Radu, Milinkovic-Savic, Biglia, Parolo (46' Lulic), Candreva (82' F.Anderson), Djordjevic (46' Klose), Keita
Manager: Pioli
Referee: Di Bello
Goals: 2' Giaccherini, 18' Destro, 70' Candreva, 77' Lulic
Red Card: 69' Masina
What happened next
Lazio were inconsistent all season and on April 3, after a heavy 1-4 derby defeat, Pioli was sacked and replaced by Simone Inzaghi. With "Simoncino", Lazio won four and lost three and ended up 8th, on 54 points.
In late January Lazio brought in central defender Milan Biševac but it was clearly not enough to strengthen the squad.
In the Europa League, Lazio then knocked out Galatasaray (4-2 on aggregate) but then fell to Sparta Prague (1-4 on aggregate, crumbling 0-3 at home).
In Coppa Italia, Lazio then lost in the quarter final to Juventus 0-1 (with a goal by former Lazio, Stephan Lichtsteiner). Lazio's top scorer was Antonio Candreva with 12 goals (10 in league)
All in all, a disappointing season for Lazio.
Bologna finished 14th, on 42 points. In the remaining 18 games they won 4, drew 7 and lost 7. The top scorer was Mattia Destro with 8 league goals.
The Scudetto was won by Juventus again for their 32nd title. Destination B placards were up for Carpi, Frosinone and Verona. The Europa League saw Sevilla win their 5th title defeating Liverpool 3-1in Basel.
Let's talk about Roberto Donadoni
Today we will talk about an opposing player and manager.
Roberto Donadoni was born in Cisano Bergamasco, on September 9, 1963.
In 1981 he joined Atalanta and played for the youth team but also made 3 appearances for the first team in Coppa Italia. The Bergamaschi were in Serie C1 but won the league and promotion to B under Ottavio Bianchi.
Over the next four seasons Donadoni became a regular. The Nerazzurri finished 8th and 1st in B, 10th and 8th in A. He played 120 games (52 in A) with 7 goals (3 in A). His managers were Bianchi again and Nedo Sonetti (promotion year and next two in A). He played alongside several Lazio connections: Andrea Agostinelli (1975-79), Aldo Cantarutti (1978-79), Enrico Vella (1982-83), Daniele Filisetti (1983-87), Giorgio Magnocavallo (1985-87), Roberto Soldà (1989-92) and Armando Madonna (1990-91).
In 1986 Donadoni joined A.C Milan. He would stay a total of 12 seasons. He played 371 games (274 in A) and scored 23 goals (18 in A). He won the Scudetto 5 times, the European Cup/Champions League 3 times, the UEFA Super Cup 3 times, the Intercontinental Cup twice and the Italian Supercoppa twice. His managers were Nils Liedholm then Fabio Capello in the first year, then Arrigo Sacchi for four seasons, Capello for five. Donadoni therefore was an integral part of the two great Milan teams of the late 80's and 90's, those of Sacchi and Capello.
In May 1996 Donadoni went for the U.S experience and joined the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. He stayed a year and a half, playing 52 games with 6 goals. They finished 3rd and 5th, first under Carlos Queiroz and then Carlos Alberto Pereira.
In October 1997 Donadoni returned to A.C Milan. The manager was still Capello and the Rossoneri finished 10th. They reached the final of Coppa Italia but were defeated 3-2 on aggregate by Lazio. The following season Alberto Zaccheroni was manager and Milan won the Scudetto again. In these two seasons Donadoni played another 29 games (24 in A).
In October 1999 he went to Saudi Arabia for one last season. He signed for Al-Ittihad and played 15 league games. The Tigers won the league.
Donadoni then retired at 36.
He won 63 caps for Italy and scored 5 goals. He took part in two World Cups and two European Championships. He won a bronze at Italia '90 and a silver at USA '94. He also won a silver with the U21s in the 1986 European Championships.
After retiring he went straight into coaching. He started at Lecco in C1. He was sacked during the season but then called back and finished 10th.
In 2002-03 he was with Livorno in Serie B and finished 10th.
In the summer of 2003 he took charge of Genoa in B but was replaced in September.
In January 2005 he was back at Livorno now in Serie A. The Amaranto finished a decent 9th. He stayed on the following season but resigned in February to become Italy manager.
He took the Azzurri to Euro 2008 winning the qualifying group. At the championships, in Austria and Switzerland, Italy reached the quarterfinals. In the group they defeated Holland 3-0, drew 1-1 with Romania and beat France 2-0. They then lost to eventual winners Spain on penalties after a 0-0 draw. A decent and unlucky campaign but Donadoni was then a little unfairly substituted with the return of Marcello Lippi leading to the disastrous 2010 performance in South-Africa.
In March 2009 Donadoni returned to club football and took over at Napoli from Edy Reja. The Partenopei finished 12th. He stayed on the next season but was sacked in October.
A month later he took on the Cagliari job and finished 14th in Serie A.
In January 2012 he joined Parma and stayed three and a half seasons. The Gialloblu finished 8th, 10th, 6th and 20th (relegated but had 7-point docking). The club by the end of this period was in serious financial difficulty.
His next job was with nearby Bologna. He replaced Delio Rossi in November 2015 and stayed three seasons. The Rossoblu finished 14th and 15th twice.
In 2019 he went for an experience abroad and flew to China. He took over Shenzhen during the season and finished 15th. The following season he was sacked after 4 games, 1 win and 3 defeats.
Donadoni then took a break. He returned in November 2025 at Spezia in Serie B, replacing Luca D'Angelo. The Aquilotti from Liguria were struggling near the bottom of the table. Donadoni has the difficult task of keeping them up.
As a player he was a right- winger. He was fast, skilful and tactically very intelligent. He was a complete player, athletic and technical. He was a prolific assist man but could also shoot with both feet. At Milan Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Jean-Pierre Papin, Marco Simone, George Weah and many others certainly appreciated his hard work and crosses from the wings.
At Milan Donadoni is a legend. He was a protagonist in one of the best, if not the best, periods in their history.
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