Lazio vs Atletico Madrid Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 UEFA Champions League | Group Stage
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THE FACTS
When is Lazio vs Atletico Madrid on and what time does it start? Lazio vs Atletico Madrid will take place on Tuesday 19th September, 2023 – 20:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Lazio vs Atletico Madrid? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Lazio vs Atletico Madrid on in the UK? Lazio vs Atletico Madrid will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK
Where can I stream Lazio vs Atletico Madrid in the UK? Lazio vs Atletico Madrid can be streamed live on the discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
LAZIO
After a two-season absence, Lazio are back in the Champions League after finishing runners-up to runaway Serie A champions Napoli in 2022-23. Last time they competed in this competition, Lazio impressed hugely by finishing the group stage unbeaten and progressing through to the round of 16. However, reigning European champions at the time Bayern Munich proved too strong for the Italians, beating them by six goals to two on aggregate.
This competition should provide a welcome distraction for Lazio following a difficult season so far. As it stands, they sit 15th-place in Serie A with just one win and three points from a possible 12 to their name. Key striker Ciro Immobile has only one goal to his name and needs to start firing if his side are to have any chance of being competitive in the Champions League group stage.
ATLETICO MADRID
It was a Champions League campaign to firmly forget in 2022-23 for Atletico Madrid, who were knocked out in the group stage with five points and just one win to their name. On paper, the group looked one in which Atletico were capable of progressing, but they ended losing to all three of Porto, Bayer Leverkusen and Club Brugge across the six rounds of fixtures.
In La Liga, Diego Simeone guided his side to a third-placed finish behind Barcelona and Real Madrid. Although they had started the new season fairly well with two wins and a draw from their opening three, including a 0-7 thrashing of Rayo Vallecano, they come into their first Champions League group match on the back of a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at the hands of Valencia.
THE TEAM NEWS
LAZIO
Lazio head coach Maurizio Sarri needs to decide whether to shuffle his pack following the loss away at Juventus. It would be no surprise if he instead chooses to hold his nerve and stick with the same starting XI, keeping the likes of Danilo Cataldi,Elseid Hysaj and Daichi Kamada in the team despite players such as Matteo Guendouzi and Luca Pellegrini being available to replace them.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Provedel; Marusic, Casale, Romagnoli, Hysaj; Kamada, Cataldi, Luis Alberto; Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
ATLETICO MADRID
Simeone will be without several members of his squad for the trip to Rome with the mere mention of the word “hamstring” likely to draw his ire. Midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Koko are both out through hamstring injuries, as is forward Memphis Depay. Defenders Caglar Soyuncu and Reinildo Mandava will also be missing and Thomas Lemar, who was forced off on Saturday with an achilles problem is another who won’t feature.
PREDICTED XI (5-3-2): Oblak; Molina, Savic, Witsel, Hermoso, Azpilicueta; Llorente, Barrios, Niguez; Griezmann, Morata
UNAVAILABLE: De Paul (Injured), Depay (Injured), Koke (Injured), Lemar (Injured), Reinildo Mandava (Injured), Soyuncu (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
It will be a heavily depleted Atletico Madrid who travel to Italy and you can’t help but feel that this represents a golden opportunity for Lazio to take advantage. Whilst they have started badly in Serie A, it’s clear that the Champions League is a priority for them and serves as the perfect opportunity to gain some much-needed momentum. Atletico Madrid looked extremely poor against Valencia and if Lazio are at their best, then they stand a good chance of getting something from this one on their own ground. Therefore, utilise the double chance market to back either a draw, or victory for Lazio.
TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE - LAZIO/DRAW
