Lazio squandered a two-goal lead against Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, as goals from Riccardo Cruz and Cristan Zaccardo cancelled out Claudio Lopez's first-half double.

Bologna were dealt an early blow when defender Salvatore Fresi injured himself during the pre-match warm-up. Zaccardo was drafted into the side in the last minute as coach Francesco Guidolin tried to reorganise his defence.

But Bologna seemed to miss the commanding presence of Fresi in the opening stages, and Lazio soon took the lead.

Lopez was in sparkling form on the right wing for the home side, and it was the former Valencia ace who opened the scoring latching onto a Dejan Stankovic pass and slipping the ball under the on-rushing Gianluca Pagliuca in the 20th minute.

Lazio doubled their lead 15 minutes later when another Argentinian, Hernan Crespo, dribbled past Paolo Castellini on the right wing before centering for Karel Poborsky.

The Czech Republic international miscued his shot, but Lopez was on hand to steer home for his second of the night.

Bologna almost pulled one goal back moments later after a slip by Alessandro Nesta, but Riccardo Cruz crashed his shot agonisingly wide.

The former Feyenoord striker looked like he was going to be denied again four minutes before the break when Luca Marchegiani saved his first effort, but Cruz followed the ball up and fired the rebound off the post and into the net.

Lazio played cautiously after the interval, but they were up against it when Yugoslav midfielder Dejan Stankovic was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 65th minute.

Bologna deservedly drew level ten minutes later when Lamberto Zauli's shot was pushed onto the crossbar by Marchegiani before Cristan Zaccardo headed home Alessandro Gamberini's cross from close range.