Playing in the Champions League group phase for the first time in 13 years, Lazio looked like it couldn’t wait to return.
The Roman club scored two early goals in a convincing 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.
European Golden Shoe winner Ciro Immobile netted the first against his former club, and Dortmund goalkeeper Marwin Hitz scored an own-goal when a shot was deflected in off his head.
Lazio's Ciro Immobile, right, celebrates with his teammate Joaquin Correa after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League group F soccer match between Lazio and Borussia Dortmund at the Olympic stadium in Rome, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. (AP PhotoGregorio Borgia)
Erling Haaland pulled one back for Dortmund in the 71st but Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro restored Lazio's two-goal advantage five minutes later.
“It was an incredible feeling — after so many years to take this club back into the Champions League,” Immobile said. “There was that extra special flavor. We played a perfect game and are enormously satisfied with the performance.”
In the other Group F opener, Club Brugge stunned Zenit St. Petersburg with a stoppage-time winner from Charles De Ketelaere to win 2-1.
Dortmund's Thomas Meunier, left, challenges for the ball with Lazio's Ciro Immobile during the Champions League group F soccer match between Lazio and Borussia Dortmund at the Olympic stadium in Rome, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. (AP PhotoGregorio Borgia)
A crowd of 1,000 fans was allowed in to the Stadio Olimpico and the supporters were quickly on their feet when Immobile chipped in a delightful goal after just six minutes.
Taking a rolling cross from Joaquín Correa, Immobile used one touch to lift the ball past the charging Hitz and into the far corner.
It was Immobile’s fifth career goal in the Champions League -- with his previous four having come while playing for Dortmund in 2014-15.
Lazio's Luiz Felipe, second from right, scores his side's second goal during the Champions League group F soccer match between Lazio and Borussia Dortmund at the Olympic stadium in Rome, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. (AP PhotoGregorio Borgia)
Immobile lasted only one season at Dortmund.
“I’ve always said that I arrived in Dortmund at the wrong time of my career and of the team’s generational shift,” Immobile said.
Less than 20 minutes after Immobile's goal, a header by the near post from Luis Felipe bounced in off Hitz following a corner.
Lazio's Luiz Felipe, right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League group F soccer match between Lazio and Borussia Dortmund at the Olympic stadium in Rome, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. (AP PhotoGregorio Borgia)
The match had been billed as a duel between prolific scorers Immobile and Haaland, and the 20-year-old Haaland also needed just one touch to score with a rising shot into the roof of the net.
Immobile scored 36 goals in 37 Serie A matches last season, while the 20-year-old Haaland has 17 goals in 19 Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund.
Immobile got behind the defense on a counterattack and pulled the ball back for Akpa-Akpro to finish.
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Andrew Dampf is at https://twitter.com/AndrewDampf