Lazio left the Bluenergy Stadium with three Serie A points after a late 2-1 win over Udinese. The match had two distinct phases: a balanced first half and an away-side push after the break. Udinese struck first soon after halftime, but Gennaro Gattuso’s team turned the tide with pressure, volume and patient possession. On Sofascore, the numbers behind the comeback tell a clear story of control, chance creation and better territory.

How the match was won

Udinese took the lead in the 49th minute when Jesper Karlström arrived on the right side of the box to finish a move started by Keinan Davis. The chance carried 0.27 xG and was one of only 10 total Udinese shots on the night. Lazio responded with sustained pressure, an eight-corner barrage and a steady stream of final-third possession. The equaliser came on 75 minutes, Davide Frattesi guiding Mattia Zaccagni’s cut-back high into the centre of the goal. That strike had 0.59 xG and 0.85 xGOT, which tracks with how cleanly it was hit.

Gattuso then went to the bench, and it paid off. Albert Guðmundsson entered on 80 minutes and needed just eight to decide it. Danilho Doekhi delivered a measured right-flank cross and Guðmundsson’s header flew in, a 0.15 xG chance but a far better 0.55 xGOT after perfect contact. Udinese pushed in stoppage time, yet never forced a final big save. The visitors closed it out with calm possession and defensive clearances when needed.

Momentum and tactical shape

Udinese lined up 3-4-2-1 and aimed to play forward quickly after regains. They actually started brighter, winning 56 percent of duels before halftime and completing 19 of 28 long balls. After the interval, Lazio’s 4-3-3 settled into a rhythm with 66 percent possession and 302 passes in the second half alone. That flow pinned Udinese back and created the platform for both away goals.

Across 90 minutes, Lazio owned 60 percent of the ball, finished with 542 passes and reached 30 touches in Udinese’s box. Udinese were dangerous when they broke lines, completing five of 15 crosses and winning 64 percent of aerials. Still, they spent longer without the ball and had to live on transitions and set pieces. When the away side found width, Udinese’s back three were often defending the six-yard area rather than stepping out. That territorial shift is what tilted the late moments toward the visitors.

Team numbers that tell the story

The shot volume was the first giveaway: Lazio fired 19 attempts to Udinese’s 10, though shots on target were even at six each. Expected goals reinforced the gap at 1.89 to 0.76, with the away side also ahead on expected goals on target 2.41 to 1.08. Lazio’s corner count finished 8 to 2, a direct indicator of repeated pressure. Final-third presence mattered even more. Lazio completed 119 of 143 passes in that zone, an 83 percent rate that allowed them to reload attacks quickly. Udinese entered the final third more often overall, 52 entries to 41, but completed only 50 of 96 passes there for 52 percent. That difference in quality of possession defined the night.

Defensively, Udinese worked hard. They won 82 percent of their tackles and logged 23 clearances, compared to 20 for the visitors. Recoveries favoured Lazio 62 to 54, reflecting their volume of counter-pressing actions after losing the ball. An error recorded against Udinese in the defensive line also hurt at the wrong time. Discipline leaned the other way too: the hosts collected five yellow cards to Lazio’s one. In short, Udinese competed fiercely, but Lazio controlled the bigger moments.

Lazio’s standout performers

Mattia Zaccagni drove much of the attacking threat from the left. He delivered the assist for Frattesi’s leveller, produced two key passes, tested the goalkeeper twice and even hit the woodwork. His Sofascore Rating of 7.4 matched the influence you could feel from the stands. Frattesi also posted a 7.4 with the equaliser and three total shots, underpinned by a team-high 0.73 xG.

From deeper, Danilho Doekhi had a well-rounded 7.3: 56 of 59 passes, two key passes, an assist and eight clearances. Nuno Tavares led the match with 105 touches and offered constant width plus two key passes. In midfield, Kenneth Taylor and Reda Belahyane combined for 124 accurate passes and seven tackles, which kept Lazio’s structure tidy between lines. Christos Mandas played his part with five saves and a 7.4, particularly in the first half when Udinese had their cleanest sights at goal. Then came Guðmundsson off the bench, a 7.5 in just 10 minutes capped by that crisp header. The depth and consistency across multiple lines were the difference.

MVP watch: Maduka Okoye’s night

Sofascore’s MVP for this match is Maduka Okoye, and it fits the eye test even in defeat. He posted a 7.8 Sofascore Rating, the best on the pitch, and kept Udinese in front for large stretches. Okoye made four saves, with two from inside the box, and prevented an estimated 0.41 goals based on shot quality. He also commanded his area with two high claims and three punches, plus 10 ball recoveries when Lazio’s crosses dropped in the crowd.

His distribution was sharp under pressure, completing 23 of 28 passes and a useful 12 of 17 long balls to relieve waves of possession. With 42 touches and seven ball carries, he helped Udinese breathe when Lazio pressed high. The keeper save value in the model was one of the highest figures in the match, which aligns with what viewers saw. Without that goalkeeping display, the contest likely tips earlier.

Player of the Match

By Sofascore Rating, the top performer was Maduka Okoye at 7.8. The fans’ pick was Davide Frattesi, who received 649 of 1636 total votes. The rating model and the crowd backed different players on this occasion, which feels about right given the balance between saves and decisive goals.