Lazio will host Celtic as they look to secure a spot in the knockouts of the Champions League. The Scottish champions, however, have only managed one point from their four group games. They are about to crash out early.
Preview (Lazio vs. Celtic)
Lazio enters Tuesday’s match in a dejected mood after losing 2-1 to Salernitana over the weekend, blowing a halftime lead. Maurizio Sarri’s team now sits in 10th position with a very meager 17 points from 13 Serie A games. When Ciro Immobile scored his penalty kick in the 43rd minute to become the first player in Serie A history to reach 100 goals away from home, they appeared to be well on their way to a victorious trip to Salerno. But within ten minutes of the restart, Giorgis Kastanos had leveled the score for Salernitana. Then, with a goal from former Lazio player Antonio Candreva, the Biancocelesti were condemned to their sixth Serie A loss of the year, bringing their league losing streak to three games.
Lazio is on the verge of making it to the Champions League knockout stages. They earned seven points from their four group-stage games, despite their disappointing domestic record. Lazio drew 1-1 with Spanish powerhouse Atletico Madrid to start their group-stage campaign. They then defeated the Dutch champions on matchday three, but also triumphed over Celtic and Feyenoord. Lazio will know full well that if they win at home again on Tuesday, they will go to the round of 16. Lazio has won four of their previous five competitive home games (D1).
Celtic’s prospects of making it to the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since 2012–13 are in shambles after they lost all four of their group matches. They lost to Feyenoord and Lazio back-to-back to start their European campaign. They then tied Atletico Madrid at Celtic Park with a point. Celtic was unable to muster another strong showing in the second leg, losing badly 6-0 in the Spanish capital. The Bhoys’ humiliating encounter with Diego Simeone’s team has resulted in 14 Champions League group stage losses since they defeated Anderlecht 3-0 in September 2017.
Team News
Due to a calf issue, Lazio defender Alessio Romagnoli will miss his second straight game. Additionally, Nicolo Casale’s participation is questionable because of a muscle ailment. Matias Vecino, who scored in the rematch against Celtic, will miss one game due to his three yellow card accumulation during the group round. After suffering a hip injury on Saturday, Mattia Zaccagni’s fitness will need to be evaluated by the hosts. Should he be able to play, the winger will start in a forward three with Immobile and Felipe Anderson.
Reo Hatate (hamstring) and Ligel Abada (thigh) will be sidelined for Celtic. Honduran international Luis Palma will miss one game due to a yellow card accumulation. In addition to being out of commission for the fifth matchday, Daizen Maeda is also recovering from a knee injury sustained during the challenge that resulted in his red card against Atletico Madrid. Turnbull might get his first start in the Champions League main draw after scoring in four of his last five competitive games.
Lazio 2 – 1 Celtic
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