Preview and lineups for Celtic vs. Lazio for round 2
On Wednesday, the Scottish champions will host the Serie A runners-up from last season at Celtic Park in Group E of the Champions League. Last term, the Hoops failed to advance from their groups, finishing bottom of Group F without winning a single game. Meanwhile, the visitors are making their first Champions League appearance since 2020/21.
Brendan Rodgers’ men were defeated 2-0 at Feyenoord in their first group encounter of the season, and they were reduced to nine men after the dismissa
ls of Gustaf Lagerbielke and Odin Holm in the second half. Celtic will be looking for their first group stage victory since 2017 here, and it could be the ideal time to play the Biancocelesti because they are not in the competition.
In their Champions League debut, the visitors secured a thrilling draw with the final action of the game. Goalkeeper Ivan Provedel scored for the second time in his career, when his last-gasp header secured Lazio a draw against Atletico Madrid at home. It’s time to get started with our Celtic vs. Lazio preview.
Celtic Preview
Last season, Ange Postecoglou led Celtic to a domestic treble, winning the Scottish Premiership, League Cup, and Scottish Cup. Winning the title guaranteed them a place in the Champions League group stage for the second consecutive season. They will, however, have to break a worrying trend here, since they have not won a Champions League match at home since 2013.
Rodgers has taken over as manager of the Hoops this season, following the departure of Postecoglou from Leicester City. Between 2016 and 2019, the Northern Irishman was in charge at Parkhead, where he won two Scottish league titles. He has led them to six victories this season while scoring in just one league game.
Matt O’Riley, a twenty-two-year-old midfielder for Celtic, has been in excellent form this season, scoring five goals and assisting twice in just seven league games. He has also scored in his last three Scottish Premiership appearances. Kyogo Furuhashi, who is anticipated to lead the line, will also be a threat.
Lazio Preview
The Biancocelesti were defeated 2-0 away to Milan at the weekend, their fourth defeat of the season after only seven Serie A games. Lazio have only won two league games this season and drew their first Champions League encounter at home against Atletico Madrid.
Losses to Lecce, Genoa, and Juventus put Marurizio Sarri’s Lazio in a poor spot from the start. Even if they managed to overcome last season’s Scudetto champions Napoli on the road, Lazio have not been good enough, and Sarri’s relationship with president Claudio Lotito has been difficult.
Lazio’s return to Europe, on the other hand, should bring them success, since they are unbeaten in their previous seven Champions League group stage matches. Nonetheless, the Biancocelesti will be required to
Despite starting on the bench over the weekend, the experienced striker should be able to return to the starting lineup on Wednesday. He had only two league goals this season and had his lowest league goal tally since 2015/16 with Torino. However, the 33-year-old remains a high-quality attacking threat and will want to get back in form here.
