Neil Lennon’s Celtic claimed a great result at Parkhead last time out and the Hoops will now lock horns with the Italians on their patch.
Sky Sports pundit and Celtic legend Charlie Nicholas has warned the Hoops that they will be coming up against an “angry and agitated” Lazio side that will be desperate to right the wrongs they suffered at Parkhead last time out.
The Bhoys came from behind to beat the Rome side 2-1 at Celtic Park two weeks ago, Manuel Lazzari giving the visitors the lead in the first half but their goal being cancelled out by Ryan Christie’s effort.
Christopher Jullien then weighed in with a dramatic 89th-minute winner before Fraser Forster pulled off a world-class save deep into injury time to seal a famous win for Neil Lennon and co – but Nicholas now expects the Italians to get their revenge on home turf.
“I am feeling a bit awkward about this one,” Nicholas wrote on Sky Sports News. “Celtic did brilliantly to beat them with a last-gasp winner first time around. I did flag up a 2-1 win, but they were fortunate. Celtic needed to take a good scalp eventually.
“In this one, do they attack, counter-attack or sit in? They are not a team that naturally sit in. Domestically, they have 70 per cent of the ball. Celtic are getting better at it and Neil Lennon is asking them to play the ball forward much quicker.
“Lazio will be angry and agitated as they should have gone two or three up at Celtic Park. The Serie A side must win here to stay in the group. Cluj will win I think so it may come down to head-to-head with these two sides. Lazio went fourth in Serie A and will get their revenge in this one.”
The result at Parkhead meant Celtic stayed top of Group E on seven points, with Cluj in second on six points after they beat bottom-placed Rennes, while Lazio are third, having lost two of their three games.
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