The Italian top flight served up a fascinating double bill this weekend, with GoalZaza setting on a day that asked more questions than it answered. At...
The Italian top flight served up a fascinating double bill this weekend, with GoalZaza setting on a day that asked more questions than it answered. At the Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna played host to an Inter side that, for all their undoubted quality, continue to navigate a curious tightrope between dominance and vulnerability. Simone Inzaghi's men, so often praised for their tactical flexibility, were met by a Bologna outfit that refused to be cowed.The Rossoblu, organised and compact, frustrated Inter's build up play for large stretches, forcing the visitors to show a patience that has not always been their hallmark. Inter's transitional play, usually so devastating, lacked its usual snap; the final pass too often went astray. It was a match that felt, for long periods, like a chess game played on a sticky pitch, with neither side willing to risk the blunder that would hand the initiative to the other. In the end, a point apiece felt like a fair reflection of the stalemate, though Inzaghi will know that his side cannot afford to drop points against such well drilled opposition if they are to keep pace with the title charge.Over in the capital, Lazio's clash with Pisa offered a different kind of theatre. This was a game that had 'squeaky bum time' written all over it. Pisa, fearless and aggressive, refused to let Lazio settle into their familiar rhythm. They pressed high, harried the midfield, and asked uncomfortable questions of the Biancocelesti defence. Lazio's response, to be frank, was mixed. They had spells of real quality, moments where the ball moved through the lines with purpose, but they also showed a troubling fragility when Pisa put them under the cosh. You could sense the anxiety in the stands whenever the visitors broke forward. It was not pretty, but it was compelling.The crucial question for Lazio's manager is whether he can instil the necessary resilience. His side have the attacking talent to hurt anyone in the division, but they have a habit of making life difficult for themselves. They look a team that believes in its own quality but has yet to fully trust the system. Meanwhile, the points shared across these two fixtures have done little to clarify the picture at either end of the table. Bologna will feel they have made a statement; Inter will know they have work to do. And Lazio Well, the jury is still out, and the next few weeks will determine whether they are genuine contenders or simply a collection of talented individuals who haven't quite clicked.
