An insight into some of the finer numbers behind Lazio midfielder Matteo Guendouzi’s starring display against Bayern Munich on Wednesday in the Champions League has been provided.
Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio, of course, are fresh off an evening to remember for all associated with the club.
Welcoming German heavyweights Bayern Munich to the Stadio Olimpico for the first leg of the Champions League Last-16 tie between the clubs, the Biancocelesti were widely written off by fans, pundits and the media alike.
When all was said and done in Italy’s capital, however, it was the hosts who were standing tall.
Owing to a solitary Ciro Immobile spot-kick midway through the 2nd-half, Lazio will head to Munich in three weeks’ time with a potentially crucial advantage to hold onto.
And yet, post-match, it is not the name of match-winner Immobile which has taken its place front and centre in the headlines.
Instead, as much has been reserved for the aforementioned Matteo Guendouzi.
Afforded his latest starting berth in the middle of the park, former Arsenal man Guendouzi did not appear at all phased by the presence of the likes of Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, and Thomas Müller in Bayern’s ranks.
In fact, grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck, the 24-year-old shone on both sides of the ball, on his way to scooping the Man of the Match award at the Olimpico.
So, what exactly was it that made Guendouzi’s performance so special?
Below, we highlight some of the key numbers and figures, as provided by FotMob.
Offensive:
Touches: 47
Accurate passes: 31/37 (84%)
Successful dribbles: 1/1 (100%)
Passes into final third: 6
Defensive:
Tackles won: 2/2 (100%)
Ball recoveries: 4
Duels won/lost: 7/1
Ground duels won: 6/7 (86%)
Aerial duels won: 1/1 (100%)
Fouls won/committed: 3/1
And yet, what the numbers don’t show, is perhaps Guendouzi’s standout ability, which was on full show once more on Wednesday.
The Frenchman, to put it simply, was everywhere against Bayern Munich. He covered every blade of grass on the pitch, displaying the kind of grit, will and never-say-die attitude which proved so pivotal in his emergence as one of Ligue 1’s breakout stars during his days at Lorient.
A few more performances like this on the big stage, and Guendouzi may well have the continent’s elite sniffing around his signature once more.
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Conor Laird | GSFN
