Lazio’s Europa League campaign ended in a disastrous 3-0 home defeat to Sparta Prague, 4-1 on aggregate.
See how it all unfolded and give your views on our Liveblog.
Lazio’s Europa League campaign ended in a disastrous 3-0 home defeat to Sparta Prague, 4-1 on aggregate.
See how it all unfolded and give your views on our Liveblog.
The first leg of this Round of 16 ended 1-1, so the Aquile had the upper hand going into the Stadio Olimpico, but also an injury crisis ruling out Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Stefan Radu, Dusan Basta, Filip Djordjevic, Ricardo Kishna and Stefan de Vrij. Both Sparta Prague and Lazio were unbeaten in the Europa League, while the Biancocelesti had won all five of their continental home fixtures.
Antonio Candreva certainly didn’t hang about, as within 15 seconds he had caught Costa napping and forced a save at the near post.
However, Sparta scored with their first chance, as Ladislav Krejci was not challenged properly in the box and he laid it on for Borek Dockal’s strike from the edge of the box.
Lazio seemed stunned and moments later it was 2-0 to Sparta, as Lukas Julic got past Wesley Hoedt too easily and rolled across for a precise Krejci snooker shot into the far corner.
It meant extra time was no longer an option and neither was a draw for Lazio, who had to win in order to reach the quarter-finals. This also confirmed their disastrous starts, conceding 13 goals in the opening 15 minutes in all competition this season.
The hosts continued to dominate possession and create chances, but Klose almost forced an own goal and nodded over, while Marco Parolo’s scuffed volley flashed across the face of goal.
Stefano Mauri really should’ve scored on 25 minutes when Candreva went on a strong counter and rolled across, but the unmarked midfielder fired straight at the goalkeeper one-on-one from 12 yards.
Candreva’s rocket from distance was palmed round the base of the post by David Bicik, but Sparta were always dangerous on the counter and Dockal stung Federico Marchetti’s gloves.
Klose’s knock-down was just a little over-hit for Lucas Biglia and there were numerous shots charged down, but again Sparta scored on one of their few forays forward.
It was a strange goal, as Julis shinned a cross in from eight yards, sticking his leg round the unresponsive Milan Bisevac.
After the restart, Bicik’s save denied Mauri from close range and Klose redirected a Candreva snapshot just wide.
Lazio continued to dominate possession and churn out chances, but Alessandro Matri’s back-heel flick was too weak to surprise Bicik and substitute Mauricio – on for the injured Konko – nodded a corner over with his first touch.
The belief had already drained from the Biancocelesti before half-time and the game increasingly felt futile amid insulting chants from the crowd. Lucas Biglia’s late free kick skimmed the near top corner, but it would've made little difference anyway.
Sparta Prague, still unbeaten, go into the Europa League quarter-finals, making it their best campaign since 1983-84.
Lazio 0-3 Sparta Prague (1-4 agg)
Scorers: Dockal 10 (S), Krejci 12 (S), Julis 44 (S)
Lazio: Marchetti; Konko (Mauricio 67), Bisevac, Hoedt, Lulic; Biglia, Parolo; Candreva, Mauri (Felipe Anderson 58), Keita; Klose (Matri 58)
Sparta Prague: Bicik; Costa, Brabec, Holek, Zahustel; Frydek, Maracek, Vacha (Matejovsky 70); Dockal, Krejci (Fatai 83); Julis (Konate 58)
Ref: Buquet (FRA)