Lazio off to winning start but Roma and Bologna stutter in Serie A openers

Lazio got their Serie A campaign off to a winning start with a 3-1 victory over newly promoted Venezia.

Visitors Venezia took a shock lead through Magnus Kofod Andersen just three minutes into the match, but Lazio roared back through Valentin Castellanos eight minutes later.

A penalty from captain Mattia Zaccagni put Lazio ahead on the stroke of half-time. The Italy international has now directly contributed to 35 goals in Serie A since the start of the 2021-22 campaign, second only to Antonio Candreva (40) among midfielders.

Venezia mustered seven shots in the second half, but their comeback hopes were extinguished when Giorgio Altare turned into his own goal late on.

Lazio’s city rivals Roma did not fare as well, only managing a goalless draw away to Cagliari, with both sides hitting the woodwork in that contest.

Elsewhere, Udinese began their league season with a credible draw away at Bologna.

Vincenzo Italiano’s first competitive game in charge of Bologna saw them dominate the match with 22 shots to Udinese’s four, and they took the lead through a Riccardo Orsolini penalty.

7 – Riccardo #Orsolini is the second Bologna’s player to score in 7 different seasons in Serie A in the last 50 years, after Carlo Nervo (7 between 1996/97 and 2003/04). Symbol.#BolognaUdinese #SerieA pic.twitter.com/04cuotthQ2

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) August 18, 2024

Orsolini is the second Bologna player to score in seven different Serie A seasons in the past 50 years, after Carlo Nervo (seven between 1996-97 and 2003-04).

But Udinese managed to draw level through Lautaro Giannetti in the 68th minute, and held on for the remainder of the encounter to deny Italiano an ideal start.