Lazio will look to overturn a poor first leg performance in the UEFA Europa League when they welcome FC Porto to Rome this Thursday.
Venue: Stadio Olimpico (Rome)
Key Statistics
Lazio are currently on a run of four straight UEL home clean sheets.
They also hold an unbeaten home UEFA record against Portuguese clubs (W5, D1).
The hosts are unbeaten in their last seven games at home in all competitions (W3, D4).
FC Porto are unbeaten in their last 14 games in all competitions (W12, D1).
The visitors have not kept a clean sheet in the Europa League since April 2014.
Porto have conceded 2+ goals in each of their last seven away UEL knockouts (D2, L5).
Head to head
This will be the fifth-ever meeting between the sides. Porto have a superior record in their previous four encounters, claiming three wins, while the spoils have been shared once.
Latest performances in all competitions
Lazio: D-L-W-L-W
FC Porto: W-W-D-W-W
Lazio
Lazio welcome FC Porto to the Stadio Olimpico as they play out the second leg of their Europa League knockout Round playoffs.
The Portuguese giants won the first leg thanks to an Antonio Martinez second-half strike to steal all three points from the Italians.
Lazio followed that loss up with another draw away to Udinese in the Italian top-flight division and are four points shy of the champions league spots.
Maurizio Sarri’s boys will have a point to prove to their detractors when they take on Porto, as their quest for silverware intensifies.
The Europa league presents the only possible trophy that Lazio can win this season as they are already 13 points off the Leaders AC Milan and nothing but a big win will suffice against the Portuguese champions.
Sarri will be without star forward Ciro Immobile as the Italian veteran is in a race to be fit for this encounter, having missed the first leg. And as reported by Italian newspaper La Repubblica (via LazioNews24) on Monday morning, the Italian striker missed the 1-1 draw with Udinese on Sunday due to flu. But he’s finally on the road to recovery and his availability will play a pivotal role in Lazio’s hope for progression.
Possible Lazio starting line-up
Thomas Strakosha; Elseid Hysaj, Patric, Luis Felipe, Adam Marusic; Lucas Leiva, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Luis Alberto; Felipe Anderson, Ciro Immobile, Jovane Cabral.
Injured: Pedro, Francesco Acerbi, Manuel Lazzari
Suspended: Mattia Zaccagni
FC Porto
Porto recorded an impressive win over Lazio in the first leg of this encounter, emerging winners thanks to a dogged display full of grit and purpose.
They followed that win up with another win over Moreirense in their domestic competition. The win left them six points ahead of second-placed Sporting CP and completed their fourteen games unbeaten streak in all competitions.
Sergio Conceicao’s team come into this encounter full of confidence as they are in control of the tie and under less pressure than their Italian counterparts.
The Portuguese giants will consider themselves as favourites to progress owing to their better head-to-head record over the Italians. And though it is now the club’s sixth participation in the Europa League knockout phase, they were crowned winners in their debut campaign 11 years ago.
Porto have failed to record an away win in seven Europa League knockout matches, losing each of their last three. But under the guidance of former Lazio man who makes an emotional return to Rome on Thursday, Porto have been unassailable in 2022 and such form will only bolster their chances of progressing ahead of the Italians.
Possible FC Porto starting line-up
Agustín Marchesín; Joao Mario, Chancel Mbemba, Pepe, Zaidu Sanusi; Otavio, Vitinha, Mateus Uribe, Wenderson Galeno; Mehdi Taremi, Toni Martinez.
Injured: Wilson Manafa
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Wendell
Prediction
Lazio 1-2 FC Porto
