Lazio recorded an important victory over one of Serie A’s finest sides, Atalanta. Simone Inzaghi’s men played an efficient game, making the best of the speed and technical ability of their players.
Simone Inzaghi’s Setup
Never a man to mess with a usually winning formula, Inzaghi opted for his regular 3-5-2 formation. However, there were few alterations to the regular Lazio side; the one used for important games.
Although Joaquin Correa returned upfront with Ciro Immobile, he got the chance to play ahead of the Italian striker. In addition, Patric was chosen to start on the right side of the backline trio (as Luiz Felipe recently had surgery and will be sidelined for the next few months) until he was substituted for new signing Mateo Musacchio.
Midfield Control
On a good day, Lazio’s midfield line has proven virtually unbeatable in Serie A games. A mixture of brawns and brains allows Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto to quickly win back possession and recycle it intelligently towards the strikers.
Furthermore, Inzaghi looks to have solved the team’s issues in wider areas. Adam Marusic was the Biancocelesti’s best player on the night, while Manuel Lazzari showed good control on the right side of the pitch, as most attacks were developed down his flank.
Extra Responsibilities for Francesco Acerbi & Joaquin Correa
Inzaghi is a manager that puts a lot of trust into his favourite players. Against Atalanta, two, in particular, were called upon.
The first was Francesco Acerbi, one of the league’s best defenders. Against Atalanta, he played as a sweeper, being the team’s last line of defense. He won three tackles and two aerial duels against the Nerazzurri.
The second player was Joaquin Correa, who, on a rare occasion, played as Lazio’s most advanced player. This was, likely, done to allow Ciro Immobile to get closer to the source of the Biancocelesti’s passes. The move worked well, with Immobile providing an assist for Correa’s goal, the second of the game.
The Best Counter-Attacking Team in Serie A
Gian Piero Gasperini has famously created a free-flowing, attacking team. When allowed to play their natural game, Atalanta is very dangerous. However, against a team that can win back possession and quickly shuttle the ball towards their goal, they easily get into trouble.
This was the case across the match against Lazio. Lucas Leiva and Milinkovic-Savic, in particular, are great in this regard, with the latter making five important tackles. When the ball was won back, the speed and accuracy of Immobile, Correa, or Marusic were used to create goal-scoring chances. Many Serie A teams employ a counter-attacking mentality; however, no team does this more efficiently than Inzaghi’s Biancocelesti.
While Atalanta lost 3-1, they can call themselves lucky with the scoreline. Lazio played one of the best games this 2020/21 season.
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