Sunday in Serie A served up a fascinating double header that told us plenty about the state of play in Italian football. First up, Bologna play host t...
Sunday in Serie A served up a fascinating double header that told us plenty about the state of play in Italian football. First up, Bologna play host to the champions Inter, a clash that pits a side renowned for tactical organisation against a machine built for relentless pressure. The early buzz from the Stadio Renato Dall Ara suggests this is not a mere formality for Simone Inzaghi's men. Bologna have found a way to frustrate sides this season, sitting deep in a compact low block and daring opponents to break them down. The question hanging in the air is whether Inter have the patience and the cutting edge to unpick that lock without leaving themselves exposed on the transition. It is squeaky bum time for the Nerazzurri faithful, and with good reason. A slip up here could be costly in a title race that is tighter than a drum.Meanwhile, down in the capital, Lazio welcome Pisa to the Stadio Olimpico in what looks on paper like a more straightforward assignment. But as any seasoned observer of Italian football will tell you, there is no such thing as a guaranteed three points in this league. Pisa are no mugs, they are a team that has shown tactical flexibility and an ability to grind out results when it matters. Maurizio Sarri's Lazio, by contrast, are all about rhythm and control. They want to dominate possession and suffocate the game, but they will need to be clinical when the chances arrive. A failure to convert pressure into goals could allow Pisa to hang around and snatch something from the encounter. That would be a real bottle job from the Biancocelesti, leaving their supporters seething and the manager with questions to answer.From a tactical standpoint, both games offer a masterclass in contrast. Bologna versus Inter is likely to be a chess match, a battle of discipline versus creativity. Can the home side sustain their defensive shape for ninety minutes without making a fatal error History suggests that champions find a way, but Bologna have the verve to cause an upset. At the Lazio game, the key will be the side's ability to break lines through midfield. If the home side can play through the thirds with speed and precision, they should roll over Pisa. If they get bogged down in lateral passing and allow Pisa to organise, we could be in for a long and frustrating afternoon for the locals.Make no mistake, these are the games that define seasons. Points dropped against perceived lesser opposition have cost teams the Scudetto before, and both Inter and Lazio will be acutely aware of the pressure that comes with expectation. The crowd at the Renato Dall Ara will roar their side on, while the Olimpico will demand nothing less than a statement performance from Sarri's men. For the neutral, this is a proper Sunday of Serie A action, full of the drama and tension that makes this league so thoroughly compelling. GoalZaza will have every kick and every moment covered, because in this league, you blink and you miss the decisive moment.So settle in. We are about to see if the big boys have the stomach for the fight or if the underdogs will have their day. In Italian football, the only certainty is uncertainty. And that is exactly why we love it.
