Lazio Prepares for Viktoria Plzen Clash

Lazio Gears Up for Viktoria Plzen Encounter

Rome - “The desire to win is stronger than fatigue,” insists Matias Vecino. “The mind can push past tiredness,” echoes Marco Baroni, the Lazio manager, as they get ready to face Viktoria Plzen at the Olimpico (kick-off 18:45, with around 36,000 fans expected). The Biancocelesti have been on a grueling schedule, playing every three days—having drawn with Udinese on Monday, they’ll be eyeing a crucial Champions League spot in Sunday’s showdown against Bologna. With Rovella and Gigot suspended, Lazio finds themselves in a tight spot in midfield, but they carry a 2-1 advantage from the away leg in the Czech Republic, placing them as favorites for a spot in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Baroni: "We’ll Look for an Early Goal"

Baroni emphasizes, “We mustn’t let the outcome from Plzen affect our play; that would be a grave error. We need to take the initiative, as always, aiming to score early.” Lazio has shown this season that their play can falter when trying to manage matches through cautious tactics, hence Baroni wants them to maintain their attacking identity. He is expected to employ a 4-2-3-1 setup that resembles a 4-2-4, with Guendouzi and Vecino anchoring the midfield ahead of a potent attacking line. In goal, it’s a toss-up again between Provedel and Mandas, while Tavares returns to left-back, Marusic holds the right, and Patric-Romagnoli partner centrally. The gaffer expects fireworks from flanks Isaksen—who scored a dramatic late winner in the first leg—and Zaccagni, with Pedro feeding the returnee Castellanos, back after 26 days out. Should the final training session affirm his plans, we might witness the most attacking line-up of the season.

Vecino: "We Care Deeply About the Europa League"

Playing every three days means staying relevant in multiple competitions, and that’s our goal,” notes Baroni. Vecino adds, “We’re really focused on the Europa League. The aim is to win against Viktoria and take it one step at a time toward the latter stages.” Should Lazio manage to progress, they may encounter Bodo Glimt in the quarter-finals—a matchup Vecino acknowledges will require a keen eye, as they’re known for their high work rate and set-piece prowess.

Aiming for a Home Win

Another target for Lazio is to break a recent home streak of just one win from the last seven games. “It’s true—we’ve only managed a single win at the Olimpico lately,” admits Baroni, “but our performances have always been solid. It’s often come down to fine margins. Against Plzen, we won't be making calculations for Bologna; our focus is solely on this Europa League challenge. We must step onto the pitch with unwavering conviction and determination.” The return of Castellanos has provided a lift; the Argentine has been sidelined since mid-February due to a muscular injury, missing five matches across all competitions. Baroni expresses optimism: “The team is in good shape; I never mention tiredness. We’re ready.”