Lazio goalkeeper Pepe Reina is set to make UEFA history if he is to start for the Biancocelesti on Tuesday against FC Zenit St. Petersburg.
Reina, a goalkeeper with a highly impressive resume, already made history on Saturday against Crotone in Serie A. The Spaniard made his 150th appearance in Serie A; not only that but Reina managed to keep a clean sheet, something that has not happened during the club’s last 10 matches.
Against Zenit, should he start (which seems likely to be the case due to the absence of Thomas Strakosha), he will equal Paolo Maldini for the third-highest number of appearances in UEFA club competitions (174 matches). In second place is Cristiano Ronaldo with 179 matches while Iker Casillas sits at the top with 188 matches.
The 38-year-old has played for several top teams in Europe over his career. This includes German Bundesliga side Bayern Munich, English Premier League sides Liverpool and Aston Villa, Spanish La Liga sides Barcelona and Villarreal, and Serie A sides Napoli, Milan, and currently, Lazio.