Prediction: Celtic vs Lazio

Prediction: Lazio to win 2-1

Best Odds: 8/1

Bookmaker: Zetbet

Celtic and Lazio will lock horns with each other in the UEFA Champions League this week. The Group E match between the Scottish Premiership club and the Italian outfit will be held at Celtic Park and is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time on Wednesday.

Celtic

Celtic are one of the biggest clubs in the world and are a global brand. Although the Scottish Premiership giants do not have financial resources like some Premier League clubs do, they have a massive fanbase and have supporters all around the world. The Hoops have been the dominating force in Scotland for a while now, and that is unlikely to change anytime soon.

Brendan Rodgers’s side are at the top of the Scottish Premiership table at the moment with 19 points from seven matches. Celtic are four points clear of second-placed St Mirren and are already seven points ahead of Old Firm rivals Rangers.

While things in Scotland are going well, Celtic need to do much better in Europe. For the Hoops, it often seems that even playing in the UEFA Champions League group stage is a success for them. The defending Scottish Premiership champions need to start thinking bigger and try to progress to the knockout rounds. Celtic suffered a 2-0 loss at the hands of Feyenoord away from home in the Netherlands in their opening Group E match in the UEFA Champions League.

Team News:

Matt O’Riley has been in very good form for Celtic and is set to start. Joe Hart will be in goal for the Hoops.

Lazio

Lazio are a massive club in Italy and used to challenge for Serie A titles in the past. While Lazio remain a major force in Serie A, for them, these days finishing in the UEFA Champions League is success enough. That is what they did last season, and that will be the aim again for the Eagles this time around.

Maurizio Sarri’s side finished as high as second in the Serie A table last season. Things are not looking as rosy at the moment. Lazio are 15th in the Serie A table at the moment with seven points from seven matches. The Rome-based outfit are four points above the relegation zone and seven points behind Juventus in fourth.

Lazio did not make a particularly great start to their UEFA Champions League campaign either. They played out a 1-1 draw with La Liga club Atletico Madrid at home in their opening Group E game.

Team News:

Luis Alberto will start for Lazio.

Key Factors to Consider

• Midfielder Matt O’Riley has scored 5 goals and given 2 assists in 9 competitive matches for Celtic.
• Forward Kyogo Furuhashi has scored 4 goals and given 2 assists in 9 competitive matches for Celtic.
• Luis Alberto has scored 2 goals and provided 2 assists in 8 competitive games for Lazio.
• Ciro Immobile has scored 2 goals in 8 competitive games for Lazio.
• Lazio have conceded 10 goals in 7 Serie A matches this season.

Conclusion

Playing at home will give Celtic an advantage, and the Hoops are also in good form. But Lazio do have the better players and are a better team. An early goal for the Italian club could be damaging for Celtic. Lazio are likely to end up narrow winners in this particular UEFA Champions League match.

Prediction: Lazio to win 2-1

Best Odds: 8/1

Bookmaker: Zetbet