Preview: Celtic vs. Lazio - prediction, team news, lineups

While the Scottish champions imploded during the second half of their defeat to Feyenoord, last season's Serie A runners-up snatched a point against Atletico Madrid in the most dramatic style.

Match preview

Seeing their naivety exposed on Europe's grandest stage, Celtic capitulated in their Champions League opener after conceding from a free-kick just before the interval at Feyenoord's De Kuip.

Later going down to nine men in Rotterdam, the Glasgow side went on to lose 2-0 against the Dutch champions, and they have now kept just one clean sheet from 37 games in Europe's top club competition.

As stated by coach Brendan Rodgers before the Bhoys embarked on their latest continental campaign, home form could prove pivotal if they are remain in contention for a place in the knockout rounds, so ending their 10-game streak without a group-phase win at Parkhead must be a priority.

Recent history has not been kind to Celtic, though, as they have lost eight of those 10 home matches while failing to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 15 as Champions League hosts. Rodgers has also won just two of his 19 games in the competition to date, but at least his side's defence of the Scottish Premiership is progressing serenely.

Celtic remain unbeaten in their attempt to claim a 12th domestic title in 13 seasons, following their late victory against Motherwell at the weekend, when Matt O'Riley struck the winner deep into second-half stoppage time at Fir Park: they now sit four points clear at the top and lead managerless Rangers by seven.

While Rodgers was down in England, after an abrupt to his first spell in charge, Celtic came out on top in both of their only previous meetings with this week's visitors Lazio, winning 2-1 both home and away in the 2019 Europa League. How he would cherish a repeat of that scoreline on Wednesday.

After firing in 19 shots at goal as Lazio attempted to salvage a point from their opening Group E fixture - with 11 different outfield players trying their luck without success - goalkeeper Ivan Provedel strode forward and wrote his name into Champions League history when he produced a dramatic late leveller against Atletico Madrid.

In the 95th minute of an absorbing encounter at Stadio Olimpico, the unassuming stopper scored for the second time in his professional career to break Atleti hearts and snatch a 1-1 draw, also extending the Rome club's unbeaten streak in the group phase to seven matches.

However, Lazio have won just one of their last 16 away games in the competition before heading to Scotland in midweek, losing 10 and failing to win any of their last nine.

As the Biancocelesti aim for their first Champions League victory outside the Italian capital since September 2003, they are also mired in some awful domestic form, having won just twice in all competitions this season following Saturday's 2-0 loss to Milan.

Maurizio Sarri's side built last term's success on clean sheets and an attractive possession-based style, but they have started the 2023-24 campaign less impressively and are closer to Serie A's drop zone than the top six - faring even worse than struggling rivals Roma.

Resulting in Lazio's worst start for two decades, star striker Ciro Immobile has been off-colour as his team have averaged just a goal per game, and a leaky back line has been exposed time and again; offering real hope for Celtic.

Celtic Champions League form:

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Celtic form (all competitions):

D

W

W

L

W

W

Lazio Champions League form:

D

Lazio form (all competitions):

W

L

D

D

W

L

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Team News

Due to their red cards in Rotterdam last month, Celtic duo Gustaf Lagerbielke and Odin Thiago Holm must both serve suspensions against Lazio, and the former could be replaced by Nat Phillips, who recently returned from an ankle injury.

Phillips would therefore partner Liam Scales at the back, as Cameron Carter-Vickers is not set to not return until after the upcoming international break; otherwise, winger Liel Abada (thigh) is the hosts' most notable absentee.

Elsewhere, Brendan Rodgers will recall first-choice goalkeeper Joe Hart, who was ruled out of Saturday's win at Motherwell by a ban, so Scott Bain drops down to the bench.

After Alessio Romagnoli played in Lazio's loss to former club Milan despite sustaining a broken nose in the win over Torino a few days earlier, the visitors' most integral defender should feature at Celtic Park too, wearing a protective mask.

As Maurizio Sarri rotates his resources amid a run of seven games in three weeks, the ex-Napoli coach could make changes in midfield: Danilo Cataldi, Matias Vecino and Daichi Kamada are all pushing for promotion from the bench; Matteo Guendouzi and Juventus loanee Nicolo Rovella may both make way.

Captain and record scorer Ciro Immobile was restricted to a cameo appearance at San Siro, having been carrying a knock, but the 33-year-old should return to spearhead Lazio's attacking trident, with Taty Castellanos dropping out.

Celtic possible starting lineup:

Hart; Johnston, Phillips, Scales, Taylor; O'Riley, McGregor, Hatate; Maeda, Furuhashi, Palma

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Provedel; Marusic, Romagnoli, Casale, Hysaj; Kamada, Vecino, Alberto; Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni

We say: Celtic 1-2 Lazio

Winless in their last 11 meetings with British sides in UEFA competition - a run dating back to March 2000 - Lazio should end that drought with victory in Glasgow this week. Although the Biancocelesti are struggling to replicate last season's form, Celtic have been unconvincing in Europe for some time now and have some key defensive absentees.

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