Lazio will host FC Midtjylland this Thursday in the fifth round of the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League season.
Venue: Stadio Olimpico (Rome)
Key Statistics
Lazio are unbeaten in their last seven games in all competitions (W4, D3).
The hosts have conceded just twice across their last seven games.
They have kept three clean sheets in their last four games.
Midtjylland are currently on a ten-game unbeaten run (W5, D5).
They have just two wins across their last 14 away European games (D5, L7).
The visitors have kept just two clean sheets in their last 12 games.
Lazio have kept 12 first-half clean sheets in their last 15 matches.
Head to head
Midtjylland won the reverse fixture by a 5-1 scoreline.
Latest performances in all competitions
Lazio: W-D-D-W-D
Midtjylland: D-W-W-D-W
Lazio
The race for the top two spots in Europa League Group F hits its crucial point this Thursday with Lazio hoping to take maximum points to put themselves in the right place to advance to the next round.
The hosts, along with all three other teams in Group F are tied on five points. And so, progression or elimination isn’t possible for any side on matchday five. However, Lazio know that three points will be massive to their knockout hopes.
Maurizio Sarri’s men are making their record-equalling tenth UEL group stage appearance and will be desperate for progression.
They come into this game on the back of a big 2-0 win over Atalanta in the Serie A. The win made them the first team to beat Atalanta this season in the league and took them into third place in the Serie A table.
It also extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven games in all competitions (W4, D3). That unbeaten run saw Lazio concede just twice and showcasing that defensive grit again could be handy in a group that is so tight. Goal difference could end up being a deciding factor.
Having lost 5-1 the reverse fixture, Sarri’s men will have to be water-tight at the back to come out of this unscathed.
Possible Lazio starting line-up
Ivan Provedel; Elseid Hysaj, Alessio Romagnoli, Nicolò Casale, Adam Marusic; Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Danilo Cataldi, Luis Alberto; Felipe Anderson, Pedro, Mattia Zaccagni.
Injured: Ciro Immobile
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Manuel Lazzari
Midtjylland
Since suffering a 1-0 loss to Sturm Graz in their opening group-stage game, Midtjylland have gone three games without defeat (W1, D2) in the Europa League.
Those three games form part of a ten-game unbeaten run in all competitions for the Danish club (W5, D5) that keeps them fifth in their domestic league.
And so they will come into this tie high on confidence. The visitors have demonstrated a different side of their game since recording a 5-1 win over Lazio, showcasing their strong jaw in their consecutive 2-2 UEL draws against Feyenoord, fighting back from behind in both games.
They will need that resilience at the Stadio Olimpico, especially as Midtjylland have just two wins across their last 14 away European games (D5, L7).
Possible Midtjylland starting line-up
Jonas Lössl; Mads Thychosen, Henrik Dalsgaard, Erik Sviatchenko, Paulinho; Emiliano Martínez, Kristoffer Olsson, Evander; Gustav Isaksen, Anders Dreyer, Pione Sisto.
Injured: None
Doubtful: Júnior Brumado
Suspended: None
Odds
| Lazio to win | Draw | Midtjylland to win | |
| Odds | 1.57 | 4.33 | 5.5 |
| Probability (%) | 61 | 22 | 17 |
Prediction
Lazio 1-0 Midtjylland
