Lazio look to finish the job against Salzburg in the Europa League, but where will the game be won and lost?
Words: Ciro Di Brita @Ciruzzo36
Lazio look to finish the job against Salzburg in the Europa League, but where will the game be won and lost?
Words: Ciro Di Brita @Ciruzzo36
Lazio go into this second leg with a two-goal advantage after winning in the Stadio Olimpico last week 4-2. Goals from Senad Lulic, a cheeky Marco Parolo backheeled flick, Felipe Anderson and Ciro Immobile have put the Biancocelesti into the driving seat of this Europa League quarter-final tie. An early goal away in Salzburg for the Laziale should be enough to settle the contest but after watching the comebacks mounted in the last couple of nights in Europe anything is possible.
Can Ciro Immobile continue his goal scoring streak?
The Neapolitan hitman has scored 38 goals in all competitions this season and his side will be again looking for him to fire in the goals that will launch them into the semi finals for the first time since 2003.
Salzburg played rather fast and loose at the back last week and will have to improve in that department if they hope to stand any chance in going through in this tie. That loss was the Austrian Champions first defeat in Europe this season, they then followed it up with a loss in the Bundesliga to LASK Linz meaning that they have lost two games in a row for the first time since October 2016.
Will Inzaghi look to get the job done early?
Simone will have no doubt been aware of what went on in the Roma and Juventus games this week and will know that scoring an early goal is paramount in European fixtures.
With a two-goal lead he can afford to be a little bit more reserved in how his team sets up, but will be expected to name a full-strength side even with the Derby della Capitale with Roma coming up on the weekend. Reports in Italy have Inzaghi going with the 3-5-1-1 formation that has worked so well this season with Felipe Anderson pushing for a recall to the starting eleven after coming off the bench to score in the first leg.
The area where Inzaghi will have make improvements on is his defensive line as the two goals conceded last week were avoidable. And the last thing he will want to see is his side fall behind to some silly lapse in concentration like Dusan Basta was guilty of last week when he gave away a needless penalty.
Conclusion
The Aquile should have too much firepower for the Austrian side and if they start the game with the right attitude and mentality they should be firm favourites to qualify for the semi-finals. With the euphoric celebrations going on across the city with their great rivals knocking out Barcelona, Laziale will be hoping to have something to cheer about themselves.
Luis Alberto is key to the link up play between midfield and attack and scored on the weekend in the 2-1 win over Udinese. Alberto will be keen to impress the eyes of the Spain selectors ahead of the World Cup, as even though he has just one cap to his name he has an outside chance of receiving a call-up for the tournament.