Currently top of Group E in the Europa League, Celtic will be looking at Thursday’s home game against Lazio as the perfect opportunity to cement their leaders’ status.
A win would see them go four points clear of the Italians, who are probably their toughest rivals as things stand, and set them up nicely ahead of what will be a difficult return leg in Rome next month.
According to a number of reports in the Italian press, including Il Tempo, Neil Lennon’s men could end up with a bit of an advantage on Thursday too, as Lazio could be without their starting goalkeeper.
Thomas Strakosha has been a constant in Simone Inzaghi’s team, but the Albania international is currently suffering with an inflamed elbow that will be evaluated over the next 24 hours or so.
The problem for Lazio, however, is that their backup, Silvio Proto, is also out injured with a wrist issue, meaning the next man up is Guido Guerrieri.
That’s their third string, who only has one appearance to his name in the first team, in which he conceded three goals in a 3-3 draw against Bologna last season.
However, if Inzaghi doesn’t trust the 23-year-old, then his other option would be Albania U21 international Marco Alia, who was on the bench against Atalanta at the weekend.
That move suggests he could be the chosen one, and should he be picked over Guerrieri, he would be making his first-team debut for Lazio.
Either way, for now, it’s good news for Celtic, and we’ll keep you updated if anything changes in the next day or so.
