Lazio have been held to a 1-1 draw by Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico to lose ground in the race for a top-four spot in Serie A.

The Biancocelesti dropped points for the third matchday running as they failed to find a winner after Lucas Leiva cancelled out Simone Verdi's goal early in the match.

A first point in three matches for Bologna moves them into 11th place, while Lazio are now a point behind Inter Milan in that final Champions League spot.

Entering the game on a high after beating Dynamo Kiev earlier this week for a place in the last eight of the Europa League, the hosts were stunned early on as Bologna raced ahead three minutes in.

Blerim Dzemaili powered a shot on target which Thomas Strakosha could only parry into the path of Verdi, who had the simple task of helping the ball over the line from close range.

Lazio responded well to the early setback, with Marco Parolo coming close with this effort and Luis Alberto testing Antonio Mirante.

The equaliser arrived 13 minutes after falling behind courtesy of a smart finish from Lucas once played through on goal by Alberto.

Verdi was the next to try his luck by sending a shot narrowly wide, and Alberto then drilled the ball across goal following an error at the back from the visitors.

While Lazio were the team looking more likely to snatch a winner, with Felipe Anderson and Alberto passing up good opportunities, the Rossoblu could have won it as Godfred Donsah tested Strakosha.

The final meaningful shot of the contest saw Verdi's long-range drive just about kept out, as Lazio missed the chance to climb back above Inter.

LAZIO (3-5-2): Strakosha; Luiz Felipe, De Vrij, Wallace (Bastos 46'); Marusic, Parolo, Leiva, Luis Alberto, Felipe Anderson (Caicedo 83'); Nani (Lukaku 46'), Immobile

BOLOGNA (3-5-2): Mirante; De Maio (Mbaye 59'), Helander, Gonzalez; Torosidis (Romagnoli 77'), Dzemaili, Pulgar, Donsah, Masina (Krejci 85'); Verdi, Palacio