In the Zone: Lazio 1-0 Bayern performance analysis

Lazio earned their first win in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage since 2000 with their 1-0 home success against Bayern München on Wednesday.

In this article brought to you by Fedex, UEFA technical observer Aitor Karanka analyses three features of the round of 16 first-leg encounter in Rome, in conjunction with UEFA's performance analysis team.

Team formations

Bayern creating chances

Probably the outstanding statistic from this match was that Bayern had 17 shots but not a single one on target. According to the competition records (from 2003/04), this was the most shots by a team without them managing to put one on target.

The video above shows three of those opportunities – for Joshua Kimmich, Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala – and how Bayern created them. As we see in the first two clips, at the start of the game Bayern were in a 4-2-4 shape when attacking, with their front two trying to take up positions between the lines – a feature previously noted in their last game of the group stage at Manchester United.

In the first clip, from the second minute of the match, we see how they draw the Lazio left-back, Elseid Hysaj, out of his position to create space to play in Leroy Sané, who tees up Kimmich.

The second chance spurned, by Kane in the seventh minute, came from Thomas Müller drifting beyond the far post – and the veteran's movement out wide, looking for combinations with Sané, was a common theme of the opening period.

It became harder for Bayern to create clear openings as Lazio got into their rhythm in terms of defensive organisation, notably in their compact low block.

Musiala's individual ability meant he was able to break into the box a couple of times and Clip 3 above shows his missed opportunity in the 40th minute following a quick flurry of passes after Bayern had got numbers forward in the attacking third.

Yet after their positive intent in the first period, Bayern "lost our conviction" following the restart, according to coach Thomas Tuchel. Bayern remained patient and at times progressed into the desired spaces, but they struggled to create further clear opportunities because of Lazio's excellent organisation.

Kane, speaking to TNT Sports, summed up their evening when he said: "We started well and had some clear chances – I had one, Jamal had one, Josh had one from the edge of the box. In these games, those are big moments which we weren't able to take. The second half was disappointing. We came out with less energy and less confidence."

Battle of wits at Lazio goal kicks

The second tactical feature to consider is Lazio's goal kicks, and the cat-and-mouse contests that ensued. Bayern, in a 4-2-3-1 shape, looked to press high as the Rome side built from their goal kicks. As we see in Clip 1, Kane was pressing the two centre-backs and goalkeeper, looking to force the ball wide – in this instance to the Lazio right, where Musiala presses and Bayern force a turnover.

"Bayern looked to press aggressively once the ball was in wide areas but Lazio escaped the pressure well at times," observed Karanka. Clip 2 offers one such example as the hosts progress the ball with a combination of short, sharp passing and clever movement.

Finally, Clips 3 and 4 highlight the work of Lazio's midfield trio, who showed good flexibility in their positioning – such as in the third clip, with Matteo Guendouzi dropping back as Danilo Cataldi steps forward. "There was also good movement from Luis Alberto, coming inside," added Karanka.

Lazio's defensive organisation

This was Lazio's third straight clean sheet at home in the Champions League and their 11th overall at the Stadio Olimpico this season – more home shutouts than any other team in Europe's top five leagues. As a team, they were very well organised and disciplined once more in their defending, as coach Maurizio Sarri highlighted afterwards when he told Amazon Prime: “I liked the compactness and spirit of the team. We moved with one brain and that is important.”

Clip 1 here shows their shape out of possession, and the way that, with the home wingers staying narrow, one of either Guendouzi or Luis Alberto would step up and press the Bayern midfielder or centre-back.

Luis Alberto's energetic efforts were illustrated by the fact that he ranked joint-first for recoveries in the Champions League this week with ten, while Guendouzi took home the Player of the Match award.

Karanka explained: "When defending in a block, Lazio keep their wingers deeper and have Guendouzi or Luis Alberto pressing. It's something they do regularly, and I saw the same from them against Atlético at the Metropolitano."

Meanwhile, Guendouzi himself said afterwards that, "We knew before the game that today we had to run to win." That running and that energy, in front of their home supporters, paid off thanks to their threat in attacking transitions.

Clip 2 shows an opportunity for Gustav Isaksen following one of Luis Alberto's many regains, while the last clip features the counterattack that led to the penalty award after Dayot Upamecano's foul on Isaksen. And, just for the record, Bayern might have had more shots, but Lazio finished with four on target and a better xG – 1.63 to the visitors' 1.10.