The numbers behind Lazio’s best-ever start: Mandas’ 7 saves and Noslin’s first back-to-back

Lazio go into the international break joint top after a 2-0 win at Venezia, their best start to a Serie A season, and two individual milestones underpin it.

Mandas: seven saves and a penalty stop

Goalkeeper Christos Mandas made seven saves on Saturday evening, four of them classed as big chances, and parried John Yeboah’s 17th-minute penalty. Sofascore credit him with 1.65 goals prevented and an 8.8 rating, the highest on the pitch. Venezia out-shot Lazio 17-12 and led the xG 1.89 to 1.60.

Il Messaggero report, via LazioNews.eu, he made five of those stops in the first half alone, and claims no Serie A goalkeeper has bettered that number this season.

Noslin’s back-to-back goals for Lazio

Tijjani Noslin headed in Nuno Tavares’ cross on the hour to settle it, having also scored against Milan. It is the first time in his professional career that the Dutchman has scored in consecutive matches.

Lazio have 13 points from five games, four wins and a draw, as they sit atop the table alongside Roma and Inter.