Serie A 2018-19, SSC Lazio 1-2 Juventus: Five Talking Points

Cristiano Ronaldo was on target from the spot as Juventus fought back from a goal down to beat a spirited Lazio 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico.

Le Aquile were the better side for most of the night, and started the game like one, taking it to the reigning champions with swift interplay and high-pressing.

Some wayward finishing kept the deadlock intact by half-time, but Lazio's long-awaited goal finally came when Emre Can headed into his own net from a corner.

The Bianconeris, who looked to have conjured some degree of conviction after the break, equalised after Joao Cancelo pounced on a lax defending.

But their talismanic No.7 turned the tide around for the visitors when they won a penalty for a foul on Cancelo, and nonchalantly placed it into the top corner.

Lazio would feel undone by the result, given their dominance in the match. But football is, after all, a game of fine margins.

Let's have a look at the major talking points:

#5 Lazio pay the price for poor finishing

The hosts were all over Juventus in the first half, cutting them open and registering five shots on target until the half-time whistle. Yet, Lazio were goalless heading into the break.

The fearsome attacking troika of Ciro Immobile, Luis Alberto and Joaquin Correa had plenty of opportunities over the course of 90 minutes, but neither managed to get on the scoresheet.

Immobile, in particular, missed a sitter in the final minute of normal time when he blazed an effort over the bar after going one-on-one with Szczesny.

Lazio today, had done everything to carve open this stringent Juventus side. But all that was missing was the final touch to get it over the line. They 17 shots in all, six of which were on target. And the only one that they did manage, was by someone not from the team.

The Rome outfit cannot afford to blow chances like this. Especially when they have so much control over the game and the team is Juventus.

#4 Juventus sorely missed Mandzukic

Mario Mandzukic is the type of player who may not win games for his side everytime, but without him, the Bianconeris just don't look the same.

Take today's game for instance when they looked utterly lost in the final third and didn't manage a single effort at goal until around the hour mark.

Paulo Dybala started as the focal point of the attack in the Croat's absence, with Ronaldo and Douglas Costa shoehorned behind him as wide forwards.

However, the Portuguese was often in the striking role during the match as Dybala drifted to the left, a position he isn't quite accustomed to. This negated his influence in the match and rendered largely marginal.

Ronaldo was pretty devoid of service upfront too as Lazio boxed him up by pinning three to four players around him when was at the receiving of a pass.

The case with Mandzukic is he often drifts to the left flank, allowing Ronaldo to take centre- stage with Dybala then operating right behind him.

This attacking combination then produces incredible fluency, which was absent all night, thanks to the Croatian international's injury layover.

#3 Lazio's watertight defence chokes Juventus

Lazio managed to do something seldom others in the league can do these days - keep the champions at an arm's length and deny goals.

In fact, Juventus didn't make any effort at goal in the first-half - literally zero shots despite having the likes of Ronaldo, Dybala, Costa et al. Zero. Nada.

That was also the first time since Opta started recording facts in 2004/05, that the Bianconeris have been rendered so toothless in the attack. And credit where credit is due - Lazio showed tremendous defensive solidity and robustness.

Bastos, Ross Wallace and Stefan Radu formed the three-man backline, but Lucas Leiva, who was positioned at the base of the midfield, often tracked back to help out in the defence.

They were quick to clear a loose ball and closely marked Juve's forwards, especially Ronaldo.

It's a shame it all fell apart towards the end as a moment of lapse allowed Cancelo to equalise, before Radu's desperate attempt to stop him in the box allowed Ronaldo to pour cold water over all their efforts.

But what a performance. Lazio must be proud despite the loss.

#2 All hail Savior Szczesny!

Szczesny was like an impenetrable wall in Juve's defense

In a team fraught with big names and glamorous stars, Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is like an outlier.

But he too has his days. And today was one of them. The Polish international was perhaps the only Juventus player at his best, coming up trumps against Lazio even while they threw the kitchen sink.

Especially in the first half with the Blancocelesti launching a blitzkrieg, Szczesny kept the visitors in the match with some of his best goalkeeping for the season.

The highlight though was the block he made just minutes before half-time to deny Marco Parolo from a beautiful curl he launched.

And even though he was considerably relaxed after the break, there were moments in the dying embers when Lazio once again came at it, but the 28-year old stood tall and firm. There was little he could do about Can's own goal, though.

In all, he made five saves in what was a man of the match performance from the former Arsenal shot-stopper.

#1 Juventus still have plenty of work to do

Allegri has to work on a few things in this team

This had to be one of their poorest outings of the season. It's just the traits of a champion that they still ended up claiming all the three points. Nothing else. Juventus didn't deserve it but won't mind as they got the job done.

But this might come back to haunt them later on in the season. A squad depleted in defense and an attack that's running out of steam, Allegri looks to have his plates full before he celebrates another Scudetto in May.

Such a limp performance against a better attacking prospect would have definitely spelled a defeat. Or maybe even a hefty one. Lazio only forgot their attacking boots today, but that may not be the case every time.

Juventus let them create way too many chances and were also held out at the back. A scenario like this against Atletico Madrid, their last-16 opponents in the Champions League, would result in an ouster from the competition. And the tie is only two weeks away.

The Serie A champions have a lot to work on.

Edited by Alan John