After finishing second in Group E of the UEFA Europa League, Lazio qualified for the Play-Offs, where they will hope to get the better over Porto in two legs to progress in the competition.
Team News
Lazio currently sit in sixth place in Serie A, just four points behind Juventus in the fourth and final place for qualification to the UEFA Champions League. In recent times, despite being without their star Italian defender in Francesco Acerbi, they have managed to pick up five clean sheets in their last six matches in all competitions.
Although Maurizio Sarri has to cope with injuries to Acerbi, Ciro Immobile, and Manuel Lazzari, he will be able to use both Lucas Leiva and Luis Alberto, who both picked up yellow-card suspensions in the league in their most recent match against Bologna. Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro is still recovering match fitness following a difficult few weeks of struggling with COVID-19; he will unlikely make an appearance in this Europa League clash against Porto.
Expected Starting XI
Felipe Anderson is set to replace Immobile in attack; the Italian has not travelled to Portugal with the squad. Mattia Zaccagni and Pedro will start alongside the Brazilian. While Pepe Reina usually starts the cup competitions, Thomas Strakosha will get the nod this time around, showing the importance of this fixture for the Biancocelesti. The only doubt concerning the lineup is whether or not Stefan Radu will start over Patric at the back.
Lazio (4-3-3): Thomas Strakosha; Elseid Hysaj, Luiz Felipe, Patric, Adam Marusic; Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Lucas Leiva, Luis Alberto; Pedro, Felipe Anderson, Mattia Zaccagni.
