Lazio may have emerged victors this evening with a penalty shootout victory against Bologna, but it is not all sunshine and rainbows for the Biancocelesti after they suffered another concerning injury.
Experienced forward Pedro started the match on the wing, and offered some promising glimpses in the early stages of the match.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 11: Pedro of Lazio is stretchered off the pitch after picking up an injury during the Coppa Italia match between Bologna FC and SS Lazio at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on February 11, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
However, with just a few minutes left of the first half, the Spaniard suffered a nasty injury and had to be taken off.
Pedro in pain as Lazio progress past Bologna on penalties
The stretcher was called onto the pitch but the former Barcelona man refused, only to eventually hop on the stretcher once he was off the pitch.
The Lazio man looked in a serious amount of pain and given his age, this could be a costly blow for an already-thin Lazio squad.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 11: Tijjani Nolsin of SS Lazio celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Coppa Italia match between Bologna FC and SS Lazio at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on February 11, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
Maurizio Sarri will be hoping that the injury is not as bad as it initially looked.
Tijjani Noslin came on for Pedro in the first half and, if every cloud has a silver lining, helped shift the momentum in the game and scored Lazio’s equaliser.
Bologna and Lazio had to go all the way to penalties to settle their Coppa Italia quarter-final tie tonight after a 1-1 draw in the ninety minutes, with the Biancocelesti holding their nerve to win 4-1 in the shootout.
Santiago Castro opened the scoring for Bologna before Tijjani Noslin equalised for the visitors.
It was a must-win game for both sides, who currently view Coppa Italia success as the easiest route into European football next season.
Bologna came into the game as holders, winning the cup last season, whilst Lazio have struggled with injuries and a transfer embargo last summer that severely hindered head coach Maurizio Sarri’s return to the club.
The first half started cagey as expected, neither team willing to take too many risks. Bologna looked more threatening in the early stages, with more of the ball in Lazio’s third, but the Biancocelesti stayed defensively resilient.
After giving away a clumsy corner around the half-hour mark, Moro whipped in a low corner; Santiago Castro diving to angle the ball past Provedel in the Lazio net.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 11: Santiago Castro of Bologna celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Coppa Italia match between Bologna FC and SS Lazio at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on February 11, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
The last 15 minutes of the first half saw Bologna keep Lazio relatively on a leash, with matters going from bad to worse for Sarri when experienced forward Pedro had to be taken off due to a nasty injury.
Bologna 1-1 Lazio – Noslin changes the game for Lazio
Tijjani Noslin took his place, in a move that ended up benefitting Lazio greatly.
Noslin’s introduction opened up a lot of space for the Biancocelesti in the second half, with his pace immediately throwing off the Bologna defence.
After a nice run from Dele-Bashiru on the right wing, the Nigerian squared a simple ball to Noslin to fire home and tie the game up.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 11: Tijjani Nolsin celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Coppa Italia match between Bologna FC and SS Lazio at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on February 11, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – Getty Images)
Lazio seemed to gain confidence from the goal, with a lot more forward momentum compared to their rather stagnant first half.
In the final twenty minutes of normal time, the game grew sluggish – despite substitutions from both coaches to inject some pace into the match.
Danilo Cataldi went close with a shot from the edge of the box but the fouls flying in left, right and centre meant that the rest of regulation time played out in a very stop-start manner.
With the score level at the end of the 90 minutes, the tie went to a penalty shootout.
Lazio had no trouble converting their penalties but Provedel made two good saves and Orsolini drove his penalty wide to give the visitors the win.
Former England and Arsenal legend David Seaman has criticised modern goalkeeping celebrations, singling out Gianluigi Donnarumma for what he feels are exaggerated reactions to routine saves.
Speaking on the Beast Mode On podcast with Adebayo Akinfenwa, via Goal, the ex-Arsenal and England goalkeeper said he is not a fan of keepers celebrating every stop, even when the effort does not warrant it.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 08: Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma saves from Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on February 08, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
“The ones that really celebrate shots… Donnarumma, who’s one of my favourites at the moment, was doing some massive celebrations after some half-decent saves,” Seaman said.
“When they do that, I’m like: ‘Come on, you’re better than that.’
“When I see goalkeepers who’ve just signed for a club and they’re giving it all that after a save, and it’s not even a really good one, I think: ‘What are you doing? Celebrate when it really means something.’ That really annoys me.”
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City celebrates his team’s second goal scored by teammate Jeremy Doku (not pictured) during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and SSC Napoli at City of Manchester Stadium on September 18, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Seaman also discussed the evolution of the position and gave his thoughts on current David Raya, who is playing a key role as Arsenal chase Premier League success.
The former England No.1 suggested that while modern keepers are more involved with the ball at their feet, the fundamentals of the role, positioning, decision-making and composure, remain just as important as ever.
Bologna host Lazio at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara this evening in the final Coppa Italia quarter-final, as both sides fight for a place in the semis.
Bologna come into the game off the back of back-to-back defeats at home – with a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Milan followed by the weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Parma.
For a Bologna side who started the season strongly, fatigue has begun to set in – especially given their participation in multiple tournaments – domestically and abroad.
Lazio, meanwhile, seem to remain at the eye of the storm. Chaos on and off the field has led to a dramatic season for the Biancocelesti but head coach Maurizio Sarri has instilled a sense of calm that has seen the Biancocelesti eke out important results.
VERONA, ITALY – JANUARY 11: Maurizio Sarri head coach of SS Lazio during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SS Lazio at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on January 11, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
At the weekend, they were unlucky to draw 2-2 at Juventus, leading the game by a two goal cushion before a late Bianconeri comeback. Sarri’s side have lost just two of their last twelve games, yet with six draws, they find themselves somewhat off the pace in the race for European football.
For both sides, in fact, winning Coppa Italia would seem to be the most likely route to participating in Europe next season, so there is a lot on the line tonight.
Coppa Italia | Bologna vs Lazio – Official Lineups
Mario Balotelli scored his first goal since 2024 when he found the back of the net last Friday for his new club Al-Ittifaq.
The UAE First Division club signed the Italian journeyman in January, after his contract expired with Genoa at the end of last season.
GENOA, ITALY – DECEMBER 21: Mario Balotelli of Genoa looks on during the Serie A match between Genoa and Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on December 21, 2024 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
Al-Ittifaq have been struggling so far this season but the Italian scored the second of three goals as the team won 3-1 away at Gulf United.
The club will be hoping that the 35-year-old will score more as they hope to avoid relegation this season.
Watch: Balotelli scores first goal for new club Al-Ittifaq
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