Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio: A Tactical Evolution Driving Serie A Success
Simone Inzaghi has emerged from the shadow of his older brother to become one of Italy’s most innovative football managers. Under his direction, Lazio’s resurgence in Serie A during the 2019-20 season captured widespread attention. With an impressive win percentage of 55% across four seasons, Inzaghi’s side challenged perennial champions Juventus, at one point trailing by just a single point. A 21-match unbeaten streak marked their league campaign, powered by the attacking brilliance of Ciro Immobile, whose 27 goals placed him ahead of all attackers in Europe’s five major leagues. But Lazio’s remarkable stats go beyond individual exploits—their tactical intricacy, dynamic 3-5-2 formation, and flexible attacking options make them a fascinating case study for football enthusiasts and analysts alike.
Lazio’s Formation and Core Squad Structure
At the heart of Lazio’s on-field strategy is a well-drilled 3-5-2 system. While variations such as 3-1-4-2 or 3-5-1-1 occasionally appear, the 3-5-2 remains their foundation. Lucas Leiva typically anchors the midfield but plays a more active transitional role than a traditional holding midfielder, often advancing to support attacks or dropping deeper to assist in build-up. When defending, the formation morphs into a compact 5-3-2, enhancing their resistance to wide threats.
Key personnel shape this system:
– Goalkeeper: Thomas Strakosha has been ever-present, starting all league matches.
– Central defense: Trusted trio Stefan Radu, Francesco Acerbi, and Luiz Felipe anchor the backline.
– Wing-backs: Manuel Lazzari and Senad Lulic provide width and stamina on the flanks, crucial in both defense and attack.
– Central midfield: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto play pivotal roles ahead of Leiva, orchestrating play and supporting forwards.
– Attack: Ciro Immobile leads the line, partnered most often by Joaquin Correa, with Felipe Caicedo offering a potent alternative.
Despite occasional line-up changes due to rotation or injuries, Inzaghi’s commitment to this balanced shape rarely wavers, reflecting confidence in both the system’s structure and the squad’s depth.
Strategic Build-Up: Combining Central Strength with Flexible Width
Lazio’s approach to building attacks is less methodical and more direct compared to many possession-focused teams. Whenever possible, they seek to involve star midfielders Luis Alberto and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic early, leveraging their dribbling and creative instincts. The back three, orchestrated by Acerbi, work in dynamic triangles or diamonds, with full-backs sometimes stepping higher while Leiva drops deep to offer passing angles and disrupt opponents’ pressing lines.
A distinct feature is Lazio’s tendency to overload central areas. Often, their three primary midfielders cluster on one side, facilitating rapid combinations and swift one-twos. While wing-backs Lulic and Lazzari maintain the team’s shape, the depth and closeness of central players enable quick switches and threading of passes through congested areas. This emphasis on central penetration sets Lazio apart as the Serie A club most likely to attack through the middle—an approach that disrupts defensive structures.
Supporting data highlights this central focus, with Lazio matching A.S. Roma for the highest rate of central attacks in the league. However, when play shifts wide, the left flank—with Lulic and Alberto interchanging—is used for overloads and creative link-ups, giving Lazio tactical adaptability on both flanks.
Defensive Solidity and Tactical Variability
A critical factor in Lazio’s leap from eighth to title challengers is a dramatic defensive improvement. Inzaghi’s well-organized 5-3-2 out of possession provides numbers behind the ball and allows the central trio to excel at intercepting passes and winning duels. This discipline led to conceding just 23 goals over 26 matches, the lowest in Serie A at this point in the season.
Physical and positionally aware, Lazio’s back three minimize goals from crosses. Lucas Leiva, a midfield linchpin with a reputation as a fierce tackler from his Liverpool days, continues to disrupt opposition play, averaging 2.6 tackles and 2 interceptions per match—ranking him among the league’s best in combined defensive actions.
Pressing Approach: High Engagement and Adaptability
Inzaghi’s Lazio can adjust their defensive intensity based on the opposition. Sometimes employing an aggressive high press, they rely on Immobile and Correa (or Caicedo) to trigger pressure up the field. The involvement of the near-side wing-back and central midfielder helps form a pressing diamond, while Leiva’s numbers may drop not just due to greater team possession but also a greater focus on regaining the ball higher up the pitch.
Alternatively, when defending deeper, Lazio’s forwards drop to create numerical superiority in midfield, making it tough for opponents to progress centrally. This tactical flexibility allows Lazio to tailor their defensive scheme to the context of the match, switching between pressing high and consolidating in a mid-block as needed.
Multifaceted Attack: Central Penetration, Wide Threats, and Set Plays
Despite their marked preference for central attacks, Lazio utilize the left channel frequently, often combining the interplay of the left wing-back and central midfielder to spring attacks. Crossing is less frequent than at clubs like Napoli or Atalanta, but when employed, their attackers crowd the box—often in tight clusters—maximizing chaos and increasing the odds that Immobile or a powerful runner like Milinkovic-Savic or Caicedo can capitalize.
Immobile’s intelligent movement, particularly on cutbacks, means defenders struggle to mark him effectively. The moment the ball enters the attacking third, Lazio’s movement, paired with well-timed runs from midfielders, becomes difficult to track and defend.
Key Individual Impact: Milinkovic-Savic, Immobile, and Alberto
– **Sergej Milinkovic-Savic:** The Serbian midfielder’s combination of technique and physicality is exploited in long passing sequences and hold-up play. Standing at 6’3” and winning 3.6 aerial duels per match (the sixth-best in Serie A), his presence offers a direct option and supports link-up play in attack. Unlike typical target men, he contributes deft touches and intelligent distribution, enhancing Lazio’s ability to adjust tempo and vary attacking routes.
– **Ciro Immobile:** More than just a clinical finisher, Immobile’s off-the-ball movement and intuition are at the core of Lazio’s chance creation. Not only did he score 27 goals, but he also contributed seven assists and created 47 chances—a testament to his all-around contribution. His goals accounted for 45% of the team’s total at the point of analysis, a higher rate than Jamie Vardy at Leicester or Robert Lewandowski at Bayern, underlining his decisive influence.
– **Luis Alberto:** Transitioning from a traditional ‘number 10’ to a deeper left-central role has unlocked Alberto’s passing range and vision. Leading Serie A in chances created (75), through-balls (10), and assists (12), he orchestrates attacks, frequently receiving more touches than any of his teammates, and often commencing sequences that lead to goal-scoring opportunities.
Conclusion: Tactical Innovation Driving Lazio’s Renaissance
Simone Inzaghi’s tactical evolution has transformed Lazio into one of Europe’s most compelling sides. Blending a dynamic 3-5-2 structure with a variety of attacking and defensive strategies, the club has emerged as a legitimate challenger in Serie A’s title race. Their ability to attack through multiple avenues—quick central combinations, crosses, long balls, and exploiting set plays—makes them highly unpredictable and difficult to defend against.
While Lazio’s quest to dethrone Juventus is ongoing, their tactical identity, shaped by a mix of discipline, adaptability, and individual brilliance, signals a sustained rise in Italian football. All indicators suggest that, whatever the outcome of this campaign, Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio will remain a force to be reckoned with, both tactically and competitively, in seasons to come.
