Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio have proven themselves as one of the most defensively solid teams in Europe this season, just falling behind Juventus and Barcelona.
It’s been an interesting season for the Biancocelesti, who are in their second year under the 64-year-old Italian coach. The team have looked explosive at points, like in their 4-0 win over Milan, but have also produced some miserable performances, like their 2-1 loss to Lecce.
The word of the day in Formello is consistency, something Lazio are still hoping to find, but the underlying numbers bode well for Sarri and his squad.
Lazio have kept 12 clean sheets in Serie A this season, the third most in Europe’s top five leagues. Ahead of them are Juventus with 15 and Barcelona with 17, a sign of the team’s increased defensive stability.
Only twice before have the Biancocelesti kept more clean sheets in their first 23 games of the season, managing 13 in both the 1972-73 and the 1973-74 seasons.