Celtic will want to right a major wrong tonight against Lazio in the Europa League. The Hoops are looking to put a major record against Italian sides to rest.
Neil Lennon’s men are the team on form coming into the crunch European tie. The winner will be set to top the group going into the second half of matches.
Celtic are wanting to shake off Italian hoodoo against Lazio
The Celts are going to have to be at their best to beat Simone Inzaghi’s side.
There is a major tag that comes with the game when it comes to Italian teams and the Scottish champions.
Celtic are without a win against Serie A teams in their last nine matches. The Parkhead side are on three draws and six losses. Overall the Celts are on five wins against Italian teams, eight draws and 12 defeats.
The major difference is this is Lazio‘s first trip to Scotland and the two have never played against each other before.
If matches went in different directions, then the pair could have played each other in 2003.
Porto defeated the Italian side in the UEFA Cup semi-final while Celtic won against Boavista. The Hoops ended up losing out after extra time against Jose Mourinho’s men. However, it could have been so different for the two sides.
Italian manager doesn’t big up Parkhead fixture
Inzaghi doesn’t believe that the match tonight is going to be a crucial one for the group. He thinks it’s too early to say who will be coming out on top and has eyes on the other game in the group.
He told TuttoSport: “Tomorrow’s match will not be decisive but it will be very very important.
“We will also see the confrontation between Cluj and Rennes but it will be very decisive for the fate of the group.
“We have done so much to get to the Europa League and so we will do everything to honour it.”
Hoops fans will be hoping the Romanian and French sides draw in their game. That means even with defeat tonight, the Celts will be in the mix.
Nevertheless, everyone will be wanting the victory against Lazio as another memorable night under the lights at Parkhead.
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