Luis Alberto admits Lazio need to show ‘a whole different hunger’ against Celtic in the Champions League compared to their Serie A form.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 17.45 GMT.
The atmosphere around the club is very tense after Saturday’s shock 2-1 Serie A defeat to Salernitana, which prompted coach Maurizio Sarri to threaten his resignation and then make wholesale changes to the line-up tonight.
“The response we must give is to step onto the pitch with a whole different hunger,” Luis Alberto told Sky Sport Italia.
“This is the most beautiful club competition in the world, we have an opportunity to qualify for the Round of 16 and also need to show our fans a very different team compared to Saturday.”
Lazio fans have accused the squad of taking a very different attitude to the Champions League fixtures and the big Serie A games, which has seen them drop points repeatedly against minnows like Salernitana.
“It is all in the mentality, we must realise that every competition is different and we need to keep fully focused in every game. We already showed that if we are not at 100 per cent, we don’t win.”
Luis Alberto has never managed to score a goal in the Champions League during his career, so could this be the night to finally break that drought?
“It would be wonderful to score a goal, especially as today is my mother’s birthday, but the most important thing is the three points today.”