The 2021/22 Europa League continues this week as we enter the knockout stages of the competition. On Tuesday the 17th of February we have a meeting between FC Porto and Lazio in the first leg of their knockout round play-off tie.
The game will be played at the Estádio Do Dragão and the hosts finished third in Group B of the Champions League while the visitors were second in Group E of the Europa League.
Golo do Dia 🤩 Goal of the dayPostiga 🆚 SS Lazio 🗓 2002/03#FCPorto #UEL #FCPSSL pic.twitter.com/Cks5iG4uUe— FC Porto (@FCPorto) February 16, 2022
Golo do Dia 🤩 Goal of the dayPostiga 🆚 SS Lazio 🗓 2002/03#FCPorto #UEL #FCPSSL pic.twitter.com/Cks5iG4uUe
FC Porto come into the match having been held to a 2-2 draw at home by Sporting CP in the league on the weekend. It was a good result in the end for Porto who were 2-0 down in the match but there were ugly scenes after the final whistle and both teams had players sent off.
That result means FC Porto are undefeated in each of their last 12 fixtures in all competitions.
FC Porto have won 11 of those 12 games and you must go back to the home match against Atletico Madrid in the Champions league to find the last time FC Porto lost a game.
A draw in that match would have been enough to see FC Porto progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League, so it was a disappointing result.
You must go back to 2020 to find the last time FC Porto participated in the Europa League. They are undefeated in 3 of their 4 most recent home fixtures in the competition and have seen both teams score in those 4 games.
Lazio make the trip to the Estádio Do Dragão on the back of a 3-0 home win over Bologna in Serie A on the weekend. It was a good return to winning ways for Lazio having suffered a heavy 4-0 loss at AC Milan in the Coppa Italia.
Lazio are currently only 4 points off fourth place in Serie A and could mount a challenge for Champions League football next season.
Lazio had an interesting group stage of the Europa League this season and they are undefeated in their last 5 games in the competition.
They have won one and drawn one of their 2 most recent away Europa League matches but have managed to keep just a single clean sheet in their last 11 away trips.
Looking ahead to the team news for FC Porto and Wilson Manafá is the only potential absentee for the hosts.
Lazio are without the injured midfielder Manuel Lazzari and they have doubts over the fitness of Francesco Acerbi, who is coming back from a thigh problem.
We expect to see goals in this game and both teams scoring, making it entertaining for the neutral. In fact, we could see over 3.5 goals scored and the teams to enter the second leg of the tie in Italy level, making for an exciting return match in Rome.