Bologna 1-1 Lazio Player Ratings: Lazio Hold Nerve in Coppa Italia Quarterfinal Thriller

Domestic Cup football rarely follows a script, and this Coppa Italia quarter-final clash in Bologna was one of those moments where you never know what might happen next. From early dominance to late drama, the night swung back and forth before finally being settled from the penalty spot in front of a tense home crowd.

The Bologna vs Lazio player ratings reflect a match where momentum kept shifting and individual moments made the biggest difference. Bologna struck first through Santiago Castro’s powerful header, and for a while it looked like the hosts had control of the contest. They pressed well, moved the ball sharply, and created some dangerous openings.

Lazio, however, showed their experience when it mattered most. The halftime introduction of Tijjani Noslin changed the rhythm instantly, with the forward firing in the equaliser just minutes after the restart. From there, both sides traded chances in a tight tactical battle, but neither could land the knockout blow. With legs tiring and nerves setting in, penalties became the decider, and Lazio held their composure to book their place in the Coppa Italia semi-finals.

Key Takeaways

• Bologna started stronger and deserved their first-half lead.
• Noslin’s impact off the bench completely shifted the game.
• Lazio kept calm in the shootout to seal progression.

Lazio Player Ratings vs Bologna

Check out the Lazio player ratings against Bologna.

Goalkeeper

Ivan Provedel - 7.5: Became the hero in the shootout. His save on Lewis Ferguson's penalty was the defining moment of the tie. In open play, he was solid, making a good save from Castro in the first half. He commanded his area well, and his distribution was decent enough under pressure.

Defenders

Luca Pellegrini - 5.5: A very tough night for the left-back. He really struggled against Bologna's wide players and was dribbled past four times. He gave away a few cheap fouls and looked off the pace before being forced off with an injury. We hope it's not too serious.

Alessio Romagnoli - 7.0: A composed performance at the heart of the defence. His passing was simply immense, completing 110 passes with 96% accuracy. He read the game well and made several important clearances.

Mario Gila - 6.5: A mixed display. He made some crucial blocks and interceptions, showing his aggressive style. However, he picked up an early yellow card and looked rash at times, living on the edge. He's a warrior, but needs a touch more composure.

Adam Marusic - 6.5: A solid, if unspectacular, performance from the captain. He was defensively sound and didn't offer much of an outlet going forward. He kept his cool to slot home his penalty in the shootout, which takes guts.

Midfielders

Nicolò Rovella - 6.5: Kept the ball moving with incredible efficiency before he was substituted. A 96% pass accuracy shows just how tidy he was in possession. We felt he provided a good base in midfield, recycling possession and keeping things simple.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru - 7.0: The midfielder's night will be remembered for one moment of quality. He provided the crucial assist for Noslin's equalizer. Outside of that, he was busy and worked hard, though he did get caught offside once.

Kenneth Taylor - 6.0: A frustrating performance to watch. He lost possession a staggering 15 times, which killed a lot of Lazio's momentum. He worked hard and put in a shift defensively, but his quality on the ball was lacking today.

Forwards

Pedro - 7.0: What a shame his night ended early. For 45 minutes, Pedro was Lazio's brightest spark, creating two big chances. He looked dangerous every time he got the ball. His injury was a big blow to the team's creative output.

Gustav Isaksen - 6.0: A night of 'what ifs' for the attacker. He got into some great positions but couldn't find his shooting boots, blazing a good chance wide. He drew a lot of fouls but ultimately didn't provide the cutting edge required.

Daniel Maldini - 6.0: Had one massive chance to score in the first half but was denied by a good save. After that, he faded from the game. He showed a glimpse of his potential but struggled to make a consistent impact.

Substitutes

Tijjani Noslin - 7.5: The game-changer. Came on at halftime and scored the vital equalizer with a poacher's finish. His energy and directness caused Bologna problems.

Boulaye Dia - 6.0: Came on and dispatched his penalty with confidence in the shootout. Didn't have much time to influence open play.

Danilo Cataldi - 6.0: Added some stability to the midfield after coming on for Rovella.

Nuno Tavares - 6.5: A chaotic cameo. He scored his penalty, which is the most important thing, but also got himself a yellow card in his short time on the pitch.

Manager

M. Sarri - 7.0: His decisions won Lazio the game. The call to bring on Noslin at halftime proved to be a masterstroke. He managed the game well, especially after going down, and his team held their nerve in the shootout. A successful, if stressful, night at the office.

Bologna Player Ratings vs Lazio

Here are Bologna player ratings from the clash with Lazio.

Goalkeeper

Lukasz Skorupski - 6.0: Made a crucial save to deny Daniel Maldini in the first half. He couldn't be the hero in the shootout, but he had a decent game overall. His distribution was okay, launching several attacks from the back.

Defenders

Nadir Zortea - 6.0: He was a willing runner going forward, delivering five crosses into the box. However, he was caught out defensively a couple of times and was dribbled past twice. A mixed bag of a performance for him.

Jhon Lucumí - 7.0: Was having a fantastic game before he was forced off with an injury. He was imperious, with a 94% pass accuracy and five interceptions. Losing him was a huge blow to Bologna's defensive stability.

Juan Miranda - 6.0: A very busy performance. He contributed to the attack with his crossing but was also prone to errors, losing possession 16 times. He got booked and looked a little shaky at times, but he never stopped trying to make things happen.

Martin Vitík - 6.0: A warrior-like display, but one lacking discipline. He made five tackles but also committed three fouls and picked up a deserved yellow card. He struggled to contain Lazio's movement at times.

Midfielders

Nikola Moro - 7.5: Superb performance before his injury. He provided a brilliant assist for the opening goal and created another big chance. Bologna looked a much more dangerous side with him pulling the strings in midfield.

Riccardo Orsolini - 7.0: He was an absolute workhorse. What stood out to us was his duel success, winning an incredible 11 of 14 duels. He was a constant thorn in Lazio's side, even if his final product didn't always match his effort.

Lewis Ferguson - 6.0: The captain led by example for 90 minutes, putting in a solid, reliable shift in the middle of the park. Unfortunately, his performance will be remembered for the missed penalty in the shootout.

Jens Odgaard - 5.5: A really quiet and ineffective 70 minutes. We noticed he really struggled to get into the game, only touching the ball 11 times. He was a passenger for large spells, and his substitution was no surprise.

Nicolò Cambiaghi - 7.5: Bologna's creative spark. He created a remarkable four chances and had a 100% pass completion rate. He was a joy to watch on the ball, constantly looking to unlock the Lazio defence.

Forwards

Santiago Castro - 8.0: The best player on the pitch for us, despite being on the losing side. He scored a classic striker's header and was a constant threat, registering six shots. His energy and movement were relentless. An outstanding performance from the young forward and our highest-rated player.

Substitutes

Thijs Dallinga - 6.5: Came on and showed nerves of steel to score his penalty. Didn't have much else to do.

Remo Freuler - 6.0: Slotted into midfield and did a steady job without being spectacular.

Federico Bernardeschi - 6.0: Tried to get involved but couldn't find a way to make a decisive impact on the game.

Manager

V. Italiano - 6.5: He'll feel incredibly unlucky. His team started brightly and deserved their lead. The injuries to key players Jhon Lucumí and Nikola Moro completely disrupted his game plan. It's hard to fault him for the eventual shootout loss.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's Man of the Match goes to Santiago Castro.

Worst Performer

Jens Odgaard was the worst perfomer on teh Bologna vs Lazio clash.