Lazio vs Lokomotiv Moscow

Lazio and Lokomotiv Moscow are set to trade tackles at the Stadio Olimpico in an exciting 2021/22 UEFA Europa League Group E encounter.

Fresh from a buoyant 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Roma in the Serie A weekend, Lazio will be looking to put a disappointing 1-0 away loss to Galatasaray in their Europa League opener behind. Riding on a three-match unbeaten run in all competitions (W1, D2), the ‘Biancocelesti’ will be confident of preserving their 100% undefeated ratio against Russian opposition in European competitions (GP6 – W2, D4). The only previous meetings between Lazio and Lokomotiv have ended level, but the Italians progressed from their 1998/99 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final tie on away goals. However, Maurizio Sarri needs to address his side’s defensive woes if they are to live up to their status of outside favorites to conquer this tournament, with Lazio returning just one clean sheet from their last 15 home matches in Europe.

Meanwhile, Lokomotiv pegged Marseille back late in their Group E curtain-raiser to earn a 1-1 home draw in their first Europa League fixture since December 2017. A trip to Italy could stir some painful memories in the Russian camp, as they’ve never defeated Serie A opposition on hostile turf across seven such encounters before (D3, L4). Lokomotiv’s away struggle extends to other continental opponents, with Marko Nikolic’s men securing just one win in their last ten away European fixtures (D2, L7), courtesy of a 2-1 triumph over Bayer Leverkusen in the 2019/20 Champions League group stage. Though it looks unlikely, that trend could change now, as the ‘Loko’ travel here on the back of a ten-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W4, D6), including back-to-back scoreless draws in their most recent two competitive outings.