Lazio welcome Sparta Prague to the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday evening as they look to seal their progression to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Stefano Pioli’s side will fancy their chances after Marco Parolo levelled proceedings and struck a decisive away goal when the sides met during their first-leg clash at the Generali Arena last week.
The Aquile will also be buoyed by their 2-0 domestic success over Atalanta on Sunday evening, a result which stemmed a four-game winless stretch.
Pioli’s outfit have though struggled to win since the turn of the year, registering six domestic draws in their quest for European qualification.
The visitors, meanwhile, recorded a comprehensive 2-0 win over relegation threatened Sigma in the Czech First League during their previous outing. The Rudi currently trail league leaders Viktoria Plzen by six points but do have a game in hand.
Lazio boast the superior record between these two sides with two victories, a draw and a single defeat. The Aquile did the double over their Czech counterparts in the 2001/02 Champions League group stages but failed to register a single victory when the sides were paired together during the 2003/04 edition.
In terms of team news , injuries previously forced Pioli to start Patric during their victory over la Dea on Sunday and the full-back may be given the nod once more with the continued absence of Dusan Basta and Abdoulay Konko.
Stefan Radu and Milan Bisevac are a doubt for the clash, while Stefan de Vrij remains sidelined.
The away side have no fresh injury concerns and will be looking to Martin Frydek and Lukas Maracek after the pair posed a constant threat to the Lazio rearguard in the first-leg.
Form Guide: Lazio (W-L-D-D-W) Sparta Prague (W-L-W-D-W)
Expected Starting XIs
Lazio: Marchetti; Patric, Mauricio, Hoedt, Lulic; Parolo, Biglia, Milinkovic-Savic; Candreva, Klose, Keita.
Sparta Prague: Bicik; Zahustel, Brabec, Holek, Costa; Frydek, Vacha, Maracek; Dockal, Lafata, Krejci.
