Lazio make the trip to Civitas Metropolitano to take on Atletico Madrid in their final group game, with both teams vying for the top spot.
Atletico Madrid, who face Lazio on Wednesday, have booked their place in the Last 16 of the Champions League this time out, considering the disappointing group stage exit last season. The guarantees of a spot in the knockout phase came courtesy of a thumping 3-1 win away at Feyenoord, which ensured the Dutch champions bowed out of contention.
Diego Simeone has a lot on his plate in a crunch period of their season. Atletico Madrid are the chasing pack in La Liga with the weekend’s results ensuring they are eight points behind leaders Girona. Ideally, the Rojiblancos’ boss would have wanted a calm last group game. But there is plenty at stake ahead of this upcoming clash.
Atletico Madrid did not beat Lazio in their opening group-stage match but came narrowly close to achieving three points. The Italian side’s goalkeeper, Ivan Provedel, famously scored late in the game to level the scores, and Simeone will hope for a straightforward win or at least a draw in Madrid to seal the top spot.
Maurizio Sarri has steered Lazio into the UEFA Champions League knockout stages for the first time in three years. Their journey this season has yet to be smooth sailing after a stuttering start to their campaign following the draw against Atletico Madrid and then the loss to Feyenoord.
However, Sarri’s men have since won their last two games without conceding a goal to punch their ticket into the next round. To make it a bit better, the Biancocelesti would seriously go all out in Madrid to seal the top spot, as only a win would help their cause.
Like Simeone, Sarri would have wanted a stress-free game, considering he, too, has a lot on his plate domestically. Lazio are currently struggling with 21 points and in the tenth spot. But the gap to the top four is only four points, which puts added pressure on them to keep pushing.
Team News & Tactics
Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone will likely rotate his pack in essential areas, as he would like to refresh some legs and allow those players who are pushing for starts. There are few fitness concerns apart from Thomas Lemar, Pablo Barrios, and Vitolo, with the trio’s long-term absentees.
Simeone will first consider rotating his wing-backs, with Nahuel Molina and Rodrigo Riquelme likely to replace Marcos Llorente and Samuel Lino from their last game against Almeira. Jose Maria Gimenez and Mario Hermoso could also come in to replace Cesar Azpilicueta and Stefan Savic, with those changes giving Simeone a solid base at the back.
Rodrigo De Paul and Koke will likely keep their place in the heart of midfield. Angel Correa will have given the manager a thought about his selection after a goalscoring display at the weekend. He will remain part of the front three, alongside Alvaro Morata and the omnipresent Antoine Griezmann.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Oblak; Gimenez, Witsel, Hermoso; Molina, De Paul, Koke, Riquelme; Correa, Morata, Griezmann
Lazio
Lazio’s draw against Hellas Verona at the weekend saw Adam Marusic suffer an eye injury that will likely keep him out of the trip to Madrid. The left-back does have a replacement lined up, with Maurizio Sarri likely to bring Elseid Hysaj into the fold.
The left-back joined Alessio Romagnoli, Patric and Gustav Isaksen on the sidelines. Sarri will also be without key midfielder Nicolo Rovella, who will serve a suspension against Atletico Madrid. Hence, Daichi Kamada could come into his midfield plans, with Matteo Guendouzi likely to reprise the anchor role.
Luis Alberto will complete the midfield setup as Sarri looks for continuity with his squad. Mattia Zaccagni, who scored at the weekend, will remain a part of the front three alongside Ciro Immobile, with three strikes in his last two Champions League games.
Felipe Anderson will start on the right, which resembles the same front three from the Hellas Verona game. With few injuries to the squad, Sarri does have a solid bench to rely upon in games and will do so again in Madrid.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Provedel; Lazzari, Casale, Gila, Hysaj; Kamada, Guendouzi, Alberto; Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni
Key Stats
- Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in their last four games against Lazio.
- Atletico Madrid need a draw or win to go through as group winners.
- Lazio have reached the knockout stage for the third time in their history and the first time in 10 years.
- Lazio have only won two of their last 18 away matches in the Champions League, losing 11 of those.
- Lazio have only one victory in eight games against Spanish opposition, with the last coming against Atletico Madrid 25 years ago.
Player to Watch
Alvaro Morata
The Spanish striker has hit a rich vein of form for Atletico Madrid this season, and Diego Simeone will hope his fight continues into the last game of this group. Morata has scored five times in these group-stage games, which have proven vital for his team. And the manager would like another brilliant performance from his centre-forward.
Morata was also on the scoresheet at the weekend and would like to finish the group stages in top form. His five goals have come in three games, and he did not get on the scoresheet against Feyenoord. Lazio was the only game in the group that drew a blank, something he would like to correct and continue on with his impressive season in all competitions.
Prediction
Atletico Madrid 3-1 Lazio
Lazio have ambitions to finish on top of the group, and they have the players to manage such a victory. However, they have struggled this season against the big teams, especially in Serie A, which begs questions about their ability to beat Atletico Madrid.
Lazio’s last victory against a Spanish opponent came 25 years ago, against Atletico, which shows how much they have struggled against teams from this country. On the other hand, Diego Simeone has all the firepower to take them through as group winners, with his front three continuing their rich vein of form of late. Hence, the home side can secure the top spot with a convincing victory, as the Italian outfit can threaten with a goal at some point.
