Lazio are through to the Europa League Round of 16 after beating Galatasaray 3-1, a 4-2 aggregate victory.
The Biancocelesti earned an impressive 1-1 draw in Istanbul, giving them a very good chance of qualification to the Europa League Round of 16. Keita Balde Diao was suspended with Stefan de Vrij, Ricardo Kishna, Santiago Gentiletti and Ravel Morrison sidelined. Galatasaray Coach Mustafa Denizli was dealing with sack rumours, saw Burak Yilmaz sold to China with Hamit Altintop and Sinan Gumus injured.
Lazio are through to the Europa League Round of 16 after beating Galatasaray 3-1, a 4-2 aggregate victory.
The Biancocelesti earned an impressive 1-1 draw in Istanbul, giving them a very good chance of qualification to the Europa League Round of 16. Keita Balde Diao was suspended with Stefan de Vrij, Ricardo Kishna, Santiago Gentiletti and Ravel Morrison sidelined. Galatasaray Coach Mustafa Denizli was dealing with sack rumours, saw Burak Yilmaz sold to China with Hamit Altintop and Sinan Gumus injured.
Galatasaray managed just two draws and nine defeats since their most last European away victory at Schalke in March 2013.
Marco Parolo blasted over early on. A Sergej Milinkovic-Savic header and Wesley Sneijder snapshot were comfortable for the goalkeepers.
The first genuine scare came on 42 minutes when Lucas Biglia unleashed a scorcher that Fernando Muslera fingertipped over the bar.
Galatasaray started the second half in a much more aggressive manner and a thunderstorm erupted over the Olimpico too, bringing rain, lightning and even hail.
Sabri failed to make the most of an intelligent pull-back due to a heavy touch, Felipe Anderson hesitated too long on the edge of the box and Biglia threaded through for Alessandro Matri’s angled drive to thump the far post.
Lazio found the breakthrough when Parolo was left unmarked for a free header from a corner.
This and the introduction of Antonio Candreva sparked a sudden explosion of events in this hitherto dire game. First Felipe Anderson completed a wonderful team move that saw Candreva’s through ball rolled across from the right by Matri.
Moments later Galatasaray got back into the tie with Yasin Oztekin springing the offside trap to beat Marchetti one-on-one.
Miroslav Klose came off the bench and had an extraordinary double opportunity, as he went into a challenge with Muslera and from the ground flicked the loose ball, but it was cleared off the line of an empty net by Chedjou.
It was only a warning, as the German veteran did get his first goal of the season less than 60 seconds later. Stefan Radu got away down the left and rolled across for Klose to tap in at the back post.
Candreva should’ve had a fourth in stoppages, but Muslera read his dummy and plucked the ball off his feet.
Lazio 3-1 Galatasaray (4-2 on agg)
Scorers: Parolo 59 (L), Felipe Anderson 61 (L), Yasin Oztekin 62 (G), Klose 72 (L)
Lazio: Marchetti; Konko, Mauricio, Bisevac, Radu; Milinkovic-Savic, Biglia, Parolo; Felipe Anderson, Matri (Klose 70), Lulic (Candreva 58)
Galatasaray: Muslera; Denayer, Sabri Sarioglu (Umut Bulut 66), Hakan Balta, Carole; Donk, Chedjou; Yasin Öztekin (Olcan Adin 76), Selcuk Inan, Sneijder; Podolski
Ref: Bezborodov (RUS)