Absolutely fabulous

Simon Basten
Oct 19, 2023
3 min read

Season 2020-21

Game 1, Champions League Group F

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Borussia Dortmund 3-1

Lazio crush Borussia Dortmund in their first Champions League game since 2007

In Serie A things were not going too well. After beating Cagliari in their first fixture, they had been crushed by Atalanta and Sampdoria and had managed a draw against Inter. Today was their first Champions League Group stage match since 2007.

The match

Finally, Champions League after 13 years. Unfortunately, no fans were allowed to enter due to Covid restrictions, but still it was a big moment for the club.

And what a start. In the 6th minute Thomas Meunier on the far left close to the German box passed to Jude Bellingham but Lucas Leiva intercepted. Joaquin Correa made a few steps towards the penalty box and passed to the upcoming Ciro Immobile who controlled the ball and beat Marwin Hitz.

Lazio did not stop here. In the 14th minute splendid ball for Immobile from Patric, prompt shot which Hitz managed to parry.

Big chance for Dortmund in the 21st minute. Erling Haaland to Raphaël Guerreiro who beat most of the Biancoceleste defence for speed but in front of Thomas Strakosha could only manage a weak touch which the Lazio keeper saved with his foot. Ball to Luis Alberto who passed to Correa on the counter attack, Mats Hummels fumbled giving the Argentine a freeway towards Hitz, but in front of the goalkeeper he too could not get any power on his touch and it was saved into corner. On the latter Luis Alberto crossed, Luiz Felipe headed the ball towards the goal and made it 2-0. UEFA, for unknown reasons, declared that it was a Hitz own goal. One can only imagine that they thought the ball would have gone wide and the keeper by trying to save it changed its direction.

Borussia had another chance in the 28th minute when Haaland crossed from the right and Meunier from a favourable position shot wide. In the 36th minute Luis Alberto tried to surprise the keeper from a corner but he saw it coming and palmed the ball over the crossbar.

In the 50th minute Haaland tried a shot which Strakosha managed to parry. Borussia found new energy and Lazio fell back a little. In the 66th minute splendid team move by the German team giving an opportunity to Guerreiro but his shot went too high. They did finally manage to reduce the deficit in the 71st minute. Giovanni Reyna crossed into the box and Haaland volleyed the ball in.

In the 76th minute superb ball from Luis Alberto to Immobile who raced into the box and passed centrally for Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro who made it 3-1.

Game over, great win for Lazio.

Who played for Lazio

Strakosha, Patric, Luiz Felipe (51’ Hoedt), Acerbi, Marusic, Milinkovic-Savic (67’ Akpa Akpro), Leiva, Luis Alberto (80’ Parolo), Fares, Correa (67’ Muriqi), Immobile (80’ Caicedo)