Lazio 0-3 Sparta Prague: Biancocelesti humiliated by excellent Czechs

Date: 17th March 2016 at 8:49pm
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Lazio were beaten 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico by Sparta Prague to exit the Europa League at the round of 16 stage with a 4-1 aggregate scoreline.

An early brace from Boret Dockal and Ladislav Krejci shocked the Aquile and Lukas Julis wrapped things up with a smart goal before the break.

Sparta Prague took the lead in the 10th minute after Lazio failed to clear their lines and Dockal was lurking at the edge of the area to smash the ball in with a powerful first-time strike that Federico Marchetti got his fingertips to.

The Czechs doubled their lead a minute later after Wesley Hoedt’s deflected clearance sent Lukas Julis away on the right who played the ball in low to Ladislav Krejci who placed the ball delicately into the far post.

Lazio almost had a route back into the tie in the 25th minute when Stefano Mauri was through on goal but he only forced a great save from David Bicik with a bobbly shot when he should have scored.

Julis made it 3-0 in the 43rd minute when he improvised a volley into the bottom corner after a cross from the left fell slightly behind the 21-year-old who displayed excellent creativity to make the most of a difficulty delivery.

Mauri had another chance for the Biancocelesti early in the second half after diving at a low ball as it crossed the face of goal but he was unable to redirect it to either side of Bicik.

Lazio continued to see more of the ball but struggled to create much at the expense of an organised Sparta defence.

Alessandro Matri registered a shot on target with a clever flick from an Antonio Candreva ball but his improvised effort went straight at Bicik who claimed the ball with ease.

Krejci had a chance to score his second in the 76th minute but his shot into the ground was saved easily enough by Marchetti.

Sparta Prague held on for a deserved clean sheet and as a result there are no Italian sides left in the Champions League or Europa League.

 

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