The fate of Pippo in Simone's hands: The Inzaghi challenge in Bologna-Lazio

Alessandro De Felice. Translated by Nikita Fesyukov
25 dic 2018

For the ninth time against each other. In the first Boxing Day edition of Serie A, Simone and Filippo Inzaghi face each other as opponents, but for the first time as coaches. 90 minutes of great emotions for the coaches of Lazio and Bologna, who will have to conquer the three points without being too carried away by feelings.

The challenge scheduled for tomorrow at the Dall'Ara is a crossroad for the season of Pippo, who, in the case of a loss against his younger brother, could get sacked by the Bologna management. But looking at the precedents in matches between the two, the statistics are more favourable for Pippo, who won three matches and drew the same amount against Simone when playing for Juventus and AC Milan.

The challenge between the Inzaghi brothers will be the second ever of its kind in Serie A history. In the 1949/50 season, Mario and Giovanni Varglien faced each other in the two championship matches between Como and Atalanta.

Rewinding the tape a few years back, we discover that Simone and Filippo have already faced each other as coaches. On March 16, Lazio's youth side coached by Simone beat a Milan team coached by his older brother. The Biancoceleste coach will hope to repeat this success.

On one side, Simone is fighting for Champions League qualification against Milan and Inter, as well as Roma, while Filippo is desperate for the three points to save his position and try to leave the relegation zone. Bologna have not beaten Lazio since March 2012 (since January 2011 at home) and have not won a league match since September 30. The bench of Pippo at the club is shaking and now he has to stop his brother Simone if he wants to remain at the helm.