Bologna 0-2 Lazio Player Ratings: Kenneth Taylor's Brace Secures a Clinical Victory As I Biancocelesti Move Past Bologna In League Standings

The story of the match between Bologna and Lazio was a classic tale of ifs and buts. For over 70 minutes, this felt like anyone's game, and Bologna will feel especially hard done by.

The entire narrative shifted in one moment when Riccardo Orsolini stepped up to take the penalty in the 51st minute, and everyone felt that this was Bologna's chance to seize control. But Edoardo Motta's save was a game-changer, a moment of pure drama that swung the pendulum firmly in Lazio's favour. Before that, Nikola Moro had even rattled the woodwork, which clearly showed that it just wasn't their day.

The visitors found their hero soon, as Kenneth Taylor, who had been quietly effective, burst into life. His two goals in the second half were a masterclass in finishing, turning a potential stalemate into a comfortable win on the scoreboard.

This Serie A encounter was a testament to taking your chances, and Lazio did just that, leaving Bologna behind in terms of points and moving further up the league table.

Check out the Bologna vs Lazio Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways:

• Although Bologna saw more of the ball, it was Lazio who overperformed their xG of 1.60.
• Matteo Cancellieri of Lazio and Martin Vitík of Bologna had the most successful ground duels won in this match (7).
• Juan Miranda had the most key passes in this game.

Lazio Player Ratings vs Bologna

Here are the Lazio Player Ratings from the Bologna vs Lazio Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Edoardo Motta - 7.5: What a mixed but ultimately heroic performance. He gave away the penalty with a clumsy challenge, a moment he'd want back. But then, to stand tall and deny Orsolini from the spot? That was the single most important moment of the match. From our perspective, that save was worth a goal itself. He was solid otherwise, but that one sequence defines his entire rating.

Defenders

Patric - 7.0: The captain led by example in his 45 minutes on the pitch. His passing was crisp and secure, rarely putting a foot wrong. He kept things organized at the back and his experience was evident. A solid, if unspectacular, outing before being withdrawn.

Alessio Romagnoli - 6.5: A steady presence in the backline. He made a few crucial clearances and wasn't afraid to put his body on the line. He was dribbled past once but generally held his position well. A decent performance that contributed to the clean sheet.

Nuno Tavares - 6.5: An energetic performance down the flank. He was involved in both defensive and offensive phases, though his final ball sometimes lacked quality. Lost the ball a few times but also made some key interceptions. A typical all-action display from him.

Adam Marusic - 6.5: Should have scored in the first half, a big chance missed. Despite that, he was a constant outlet on the right. He provided width and put in a couple of decent crosses. Defensively sound for the most part.

Mario Gila - 6.0: A frustrating afternoon for the defender. He looked composed for the short time he was on the pitch, showing good distribution. His outing was unfortunately cut short by an injury, which was a real shame.

Midfielders

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru - 7.5: An excellent, understated performance in the middle of the park. He created a big chance and his passing was sublime, rarely giving possession away. He was the engine room that kept Lazio ticking, linking defense and attack seamlessly. What stood out to us was his composure under pressure.

Kenneth Taylor - 9.0: The undisputed man of the match. For 70 minutes, he was a solid but quiet presence. Then, he exploded. Two goals, both taken with supreme confidence, to win the game for his team. His first was a precise finish, and the second a demonstration of great movement. A clinical, match-winning display.

Forwards

Pedro - 5.5: A very quiet 45 minutes for the veteran. He struggled to get involved in the game and made little impact. It was no surprise to see him substituted at halftime. Just one of those days where nothing seemed to click for him.

Gustav Isaksen - 6.0: He showed flashes of what he can do, drawing a couple of fouls and getting a shot on target. However, he also lost possession too frequently for our liking. A mixed bag of a performance, full of effort but lacking a decisive final product.

Daniel Maldini - 4.5: We were really disappointed with this one. He had a great chance on a counterattack and blazed it wide. He lost the ball far too often and just seemed to struggle with the physicality of the game. A performance he will want to move on from quickly.

Substitutes

Boulaye Dia - 7.5: Came on and changed the game. His perfectly weighted through ball for Taylor's second goal was pure class. He provided a different kind of threat that Bologna struggled to handle.

Matteo Cancellieri - 7.0: Looked very lively after coming on. He forced a good save with a sharp shot and was a constant nuisance. Brought energy and directness to the attack.

Tijjani Noslin - 6.5: Added some fresh legs and drew a few fouls, helping his team get up the pitch. Didn't have a standout moment but played his part well.

Oliver Provstgaard - 6.5: Came on for the injured Gila and did a solid job. Slotted in well and didn't put a foot wrong.

Manager

M. Ianni - 8.0: His substitutions were spot on. Recognizing the first half attack wasn't working, he made changes that directly led to the victory. Dia's introduction was a masterstroke. He gets full credit for being proactive and winning his team the match from the sideline.

Bologna Player Ratings vs Lazio

Here are the Bologna Player Ratings from the Bologna vs Lazio Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Federico Ravaglia - 6.0: He made a couple of decent saves and couldn't do much about either of Taylor's clinical finishes. His distribution was good, but he was ultimately left exposed by his defence for the goals. A standard performance in a losing effort.

Defenders

Torbjørn Heggem - 6.0: Was very tidy in possession for the most part, with a 98% pass accuracy. He defended solidly for large parts of the game but was part of a defence that eventually crumbled. A decent but ultimately fruitless outing.

Nadir Zortea - 5.5: A difficult day at the office. He struggled to make an impact going forward and was sometimes a liability in possession. The game seemed to pass him by a little bit.

Juan Miranda - 6.5: One of Bologna's better players. He was solid defensively and provided a creative spark going forward, creating a chance and delivering some good crosses. He can hold his head up high despite the result.

Martin Vitík - 6.0: He was busy, making plenty of tackles and clearances. However, he also lost possession a few too many times. A battling performance but he was part of a backline that conceded twice.

Midfielders

Nikola Moro - 7.0: Bologna's best player on the day. He was so unlucky to see his thunderous strike come back off the crossbar. He was everywhere, recovering the ball and trying to drive his team forward. A great performance that deserved more.

Riccardo Orsolini - 4.0: A day to forget for the captain. The penalty miss was the defining moment of the game. At this level, you simply have to score those. It felt like the air went out of Bologna's sails after that, and he has to take responsibility.

Federico Bernardeschi - 6.5: Looked neat and tidy on the ball, with almost perfect pass accuracy. He created a chance and tried to make things happen. A solid effort, but he couldn't find the key to unlock the Lazio defence.

Jonathan Rowe - 5.0: He really struggled to get into the game. He lost the ball seven times and his passing was wayward. It felt like he was trying hard, but nothing was coming off for him. A learning experience.

Simon Sohm - 6.0: A tidy performance in midfield without being spectacular. He won his duels and kept the ball moving but lacked that creative spark to really hurt Lazio. Solid but unspectacular.

Forwards

Santiago Castro - 6.5: A very eventful game for him. He did brilliantly to win the penalty, showing great movement in the box. However, he also picked up a silly yellow card and was caught offside. A mixed bag, but his contribution led to Bologna's biggest chance.

Substitutes

Benja Domínguez - 6.0: Came on and had a shot blocked, but couldn't really change the tide of the game.

Nicolò Cambiaghi - 5.5: Barely touched the ball after coming on, struggled to get involved.

Jhon Lucumí - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Thijs Dallinga - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

V. Italiano - 5.5: His team had a clear game plan and for large parts, it worked. They created the better chances in the first hour, won a penalty, and hit the woodwork. But his side's inability to finish cost them dearly. He will be frustrated that his team came away with nothing.

Man of the Match

Kenneth Taylor was the man of the match from this Serie A fixture.

Worst Performer

Riccardo Orsolini was the worst of the lot in the Bologna vs Lazio game.