Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Europa League match.
Lazio failed to secure a win at home against Udinese (1:1) on Monday, but their task in the Europa League looks more straightforward against a Viktoria Plzeň side that struggled in the first leg. The Czech club was fortunate to escape with just a narrow defeat, as Lazio could have won by a larger margin.
Lazio
In the first leg in Plzeň, Lazio clinched a late victory through Gustav Isaksen’s goal, despite finishing with only nine men after Nicolò Rovella and Samuel Gigot were sent off. Even with a rotated squad, Lazio registered 1.25 xG from 10 total shots and controlled the game for long stretches. In March, they have netted five times in three matches, keeping themselves in contention for a top-four Serie A finish while pushing forward in the Europa League.
Viktoria Plzeň
Viktoria Plzeň, who comfortably dispatched Ferencváros in the previous round (3:1 on aggregate), will have a much tougher challenge in Rome. The Czech side lost their away leg in Budapest (0:1), allowing 12 shots and 0.99 xGA. Their domestic form has also dipped, as they failed to beat Pardubice (0:0) on Sunday. Since 30 January, they have won just twice in six away matches, highlighting their struggles on the road.
Lazio vs Viktoria Plzeň Prediction
Lazio’s home advantage and superior quality should be enough to expose Viktoria Plzeň’s defensive weaknesses. A comfortable win for the Italians is the most likely outcome, and they should score at least twice.
