Hoops Hopes of a Roamin' Triumph

Hoops Hopes of a Roamin' Triumph
~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~


Kyogo wheels away to celebrate after giving Celtic an early lead against Lazio in October

Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Tuesday, 28 November 2023
17.45 GMT​

With the European ambitions for this season hanging by a thread, the Bhoys will be hoping that history can repeat itself tomorrow, when they take on S.S. Lazio in the Champions League.

After the 1-1 draw with Motherwell at the weekend, Celtic will need to be far more clinical if they are to have any chance against Lazio, but hopefully that game will have served to get the rust out after the International break and ready for this trip.

The equation is simple. Celtic have to win this game against Lazio and hope that Atletico Madrid defeat Feyenoord this week. If that happens, the Hoops then have the opportunity to * 3rd place in the Group with victory over the Dutch champions in Glasgow in a couple of weeks time.

With the stakes set so high and the margins so fine, Celtic will need to be at the top of their game in what is a must-win clash. But there is hope for this.


2019: The Bhoys celebrate a famous 2-1 victory against Lazio in Rome

Firstly, the last time that the Celts visited the Stadio Olimpico 4 years ago, it resulted in a late, dramatic 2-1 success - a first for the Hoops on Italian soil. And secondly, the Biancocelesti have not been in particularly good form this season, especially in Serie A.

When these sides met back in October, Lazio were hovering just above the relegation zone after a very sluggish start. The dramatic late winner in Glasgow triggered a run of 3 wins in 4 games which saw them climb away from the foot of the table.

Since then however, the Roman side have stumbled again, having failed to win any of their last 3 league games - including coming into this match off the back of a 2-1 defeat at the hands of bottom club, Salernitana, at the weekend.

Should Celtic manage to win in the Italian Capital, it will be an achievement that neither Atletico or Feyenoord have been able to accomplish. In fact, the only win that Lazio have had in the past month was the 1-0 success at home against the Dutch champions.


David Turnbull has averaged a goal every 77 minutes played in the league this season. ​

By the Numbers​

• Brendan Rodgers has won just twice in 22 Champions League Group Stage outings in his managerial career, including during all of his time in England.

• Celtic need to record their first win in the Champions League since September 2017 & a first in any European competition since December 2021.

• Lazio are currently on a 7 game unbeaten run across all competitions at the Stadio Olimpico this season, including a 1-1 draw with Atletico and 1-0 win over Feyenoord.

• All 3 previous meetings between these sides, including Celtic's two wins in 2019 and when these sides met back in October, have required going the distance and been decided in the 88th minute or later shows how tight all of these contests have been.​

Manager Brendan Rodgers has some thinking to do in how to get a result in Rome on Tuesday

Team News

The Bhoys will continue to be without Liel Abada (thigh), Reo Hatate (hamstring), Stephen Welsh (ankle) and Daizen Maeda, who would've been suspended for this game anyhow but remains sidelined with a knee injury.

Luis Palma will also sit this game out through through suspension, having picked up a series of bookings over the course of this campaign.​

As for Maurizio Sarri's side, they will welcome back Luis Alberto who missed the weekend through suspension, but they will continue without the injured trio of Matias Vecino, Adam Marusic and Mattia Zaccagni.

Referee: Halil Umut Meler (TUR)

The Turkish official has taken charge of 9 games at this level since making his debut in 2020. The 37 yr old has twice previously taken charge of games involving Celtic - first in Europa League Qualifying when the Bhoys defeated FK Jablonec in August 2021 and then in last season's Champions League when the Hoops hosted RB Leipzig in October 2022.



~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P: 3 W: 2 D: 0 L: 1​

Celtic v all Italian Opposition
P: 30 W: 7 D: 8 L: 15

~~~~ 2023/24 Form ~~~~ ​

Overall
D W L W W ~ L D W L W​