Lazio will host Borussia Dortmund in their first group stage game of Champions League
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico
Group F: Dortmund, Club Brugge, Lazio, Zenit St Petersburg
Key Statistics
- Lazio will play in their first Champions League season after 13 years.
- The two sides have previously met twice in the European competitions, with Dortmund emerging as the winners in all.
- The Black and Yellow have lost their last three away games in the Champions League, with the last defeat coming against PSG last season.
Lazio
Lazio would like to make an impact in their long-evaded Champions League competition, however, their current form is more of a concern.
Despite finishing fourth in Serie A table last season, the Biancocelesti were off to lacklustre start this time, unable to win any of their last three games. They were humbled to a 3-0 defeat by Sampdoria in the weekend.
Furthermore, Lazio have a long list of injuries especially in the defence, which leaves Simone Inzaghi to deprive of options. However, their attack and midfield look promising with the presence of Ciro Immobile, Joaquin Correa, Luis Alberto and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Lazio – Possible line-up
Strakosha; Patric, Acerbi, Luiz Felipe; Marušić, Milinković-Savić, Lucas Leiva, Luis Alberto, Fares; Correa, Immobile
Unavailable players
Lazzari (thigh), Radu (thigh), Pereira (fever)
Doubtful
Cataldi (illness), Luiz Felipe (ankle)
We would have loved to have our fans for our return to Champions League football. We’ll need to be aggressive against Borussia Dortmund. They are one of the eight best teams in Europe. It will be a tough match – we’ll need a great performance. I want my players to respond to the defeat to Sampdoria on the weekend [in Serie A].
Simone Inzaghi, Lazio coach
Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund are off to a flying start in the Bundesliga this season despite the defeat against Augsburg. Die Borussen edged out Hoffenheim with a narrow win the weekend.
Lucian Favre’s squad is overflowing with attacking options and Erling Haaland will be the man in the spotlight. Gio Reyna and Jude Bellingham are other promising talents, who have made their presence felt this season.
Borussia Dortmund – Possible line-up
Roman Burki, Emre Can, Mats Hummels, Lukasz Piszczek, Thomas Meunier, Jude Bellingham, Axel Witsel, Raphael Guerreiro, Jadon Sancho, Gio Reyna, Erling Haaland
Unavailable players
Akanji (illness), Can (suspended), Schmelzer (knee), Schulz (thigh), Zagadou (knee)
Doubtful
Piszczek (eye)
Currently there is no clear answer if he can play. But we will become creative and will definitely find a solution.”
Lucien Favre, Dortmund coach, on Łukasz Piszczek, who suffered an eye injury
