The pressure is on Lazio” data-scaytid=”1″>Lazio to beat Apollon Limassol in Rome tonight, but Vladimir Petkovic makes surprise changes.
The pressure is on Lazio to beat Apollon Limassol in Rome tonight, but Vladimir Petkovic makes surprise changes.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 20.05 GMT for Europa League Group J.
These sides drew 0-0 in Cyprus, a result that slowed down the Biancocelesti’s progress in the competition and irritated fans.
Trabzonspor lead the group on seven points, followed by Lazio with five and Apollon four.
Petkovic has a long list of absentees, including Bruno Pereirinha, Andre Dias, Senad Lulic, Lucas Biglia, Giuseppe Biava and Stefano Mauri.
Surprisingly, he chooses to give Swedish goalkeeper Ertrit Berisha his debut for the club, resting Federico Marchetti.
Hernanes, Antonio Candreva and Ederson bring experience, while Keita Balde and Sergio Floccari receive rare starts.
The Curva Nord is shut after racist abuse in a previous game, although before the appeal this entire match was going to be played behind closed doors.
Lazio: Berisha; Konko, Cana, Ciani, Cavanda; Onazi, Hernanes, Keita; Candreva, Floccari, Ederson
Lazio bench: Marchetti, Novaretti, Crecco, Gonzalez, Ledesma, Klose, Perea
Apollon: Bruno Vale; Stylianou, Merkis, Karipidis, Vasiliou; Sangoy, Hamdani, Gullon, Papoulis; Meriem, Roberto
Apollon bench: Hidi, Dananae, Catala, Charalambous, Grigorie, Konstantinou, Haber