Lazio Faces Viktoria Plzen in Pivotal Europa League Clash

Pilsen, Czech Republic — Lazio prepares to face Viktoria Plzen in the first leg of their Europa League Round of 16 matchup on March 6, 2025, at the Doosan Arena. Both teams will clash for the first time, with the Italian side looking to advance to the quarter-finals against either Bodo/Glimt or Olympiacos.

Lazio, having topped their group with 19 points after beating notable teams like Ajax, Porto, and Real Sociedad, aims to build on their continental success. The club hopes to secure their first European trophy since winning the 1999 UEFA Super Cup. However, despite their strong start, they have won just two of their last 13 knockout matches in European competition.

“We are very motivated,” Lazio Coach Marco Baroni said. “The results from our recent games show we can compete with the best.” After being eliminated from the Coppa Italia in a disappointing 2-0 loss to Inter Milan, Lazio must overcome psychological hurdles heading into this crucial matchup.

Viktoria Plzen will also bring momentum after recently reaching the Conference League quarter-finals last season. Despite finishing outside of the top eight in the league, they advanced through the knockout playoffs, highlighted by a 3-0 victory over Ferencvaros.

“We know it will be a tough match, but we have the home advantage,” said Plzen’s Coach. “Our fans will be pivotal in pushing us forward.” Historically, Plzen has only won one of its last eight encounters against Italian teams but has an impressive home record in the Europa League, winning ten of their last twelve matches.

Both teams are entering the match with hopes of scoring early. Lazio recently enjoyed a thrilling victory over AC Milan, with a late penalty securing a 2-1 win and keeping them in the race for Champions League qualification.

In terms of player injuries, Lazio will still be without top scorer Taty Castellanos. However, Baroni expects to have a strong squad, including Europa League specialist Pedro, who is eager for more minutes following his critical contribution in the previous game.

Plzen will start with their full roster, looking to capitalize on their European home record. Key players like Pavel Sulc and veteran striker have been instrumental, each contributing three goals and three assists this season.

Overall, this fixture promises to be competitive, with expectations high for an entertaining encounter as both teams vie for a significant advantage before the second leg in Rome.