Lazio 3-1 Borussia Dortmund: Below average BVB fall short in Champions League opener

Borussia Dortmund fell to defeat in Rome as Lazio ran out 3-1 winners in the opening Group F game of the Champions League.

Lazio took the lead early on through Ciro Immobile after good work from Joaquin Correa, and they doubled their cushion not too long after through a Marwin Hitz own goal. 

Erling Haaland responded for Borussia Dortmund with just under 20 minutes to go, but Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro put the final nail in the coffin soon after as Lazio enjoyed a 3-1 win.

The Italians came out of the blocks the better out of the two sides and it only took them six minutes to open the scoring, Joachim Correa picked the ball up on the left of the box after a mistake from Thomas Meunier and slid it into Ciro Immobile’s path, who finished past Marwin Hitz with a clever flick. Borussia Dortmund did almost immediately get one back but Jadon Sancho’s corner was headed straight at Thomas Strakosha in the Lazio goal by Lukasz Piszczek.

The home side came back firing and created numerous chances that they just could not capitalise on, but a Luiz Felipe header from a corner found its way into the back of the net via Hitz’ hand to make it 2-0 for Lazio after just 23 minutes.

BVB must have thought they had equalised just before half-time, a great touch by Haaland followed by a well executed shot towards the bottom corner nearly halved the score, but an excellent block from a Lazio defender on the line prevented the Black and Yellows from scoring. Meunier, too, missed a golden chance to make it 2-1 before the break. Haaland was presented with another chance just after the break, the Norwegian broke into the box showing great determination, but his strike was well saved by Strakosha.

It was third time lucky for the striker, however, as he rifled a first time effort into the roof of the net after a nice cut back by substitute Gio Reyna.

The hope of a comeback was dashed quickly though, as the Serie A side went up the pitch just five minutes later to make it 3-1. Immobile slotted the ball through to Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro and he cooly finished into the back of the net to seemingly put the game out of reach for Dortmund.

The final chance of the game fell to BVB striker Haaland, but his powerful header was again well saved by Strakosha as he had to react quickly in the Lazio net. It ended 3-1 in Lazio’s favour, leaving the Black and Yellows bottom of their Champions League group after the opening matchday.

Borussia Dortmund will face Schalke 04 next in the Revierderby before hosting Zenit Saint Petersburg in their next group game in the Champions League.