Europa League line-ups: Lazio vs. Real Sociedad | OneFootball

Lazio can guarantee Europa League Round of 16 access against Real Sociedad, so Taty Castellanos and Boulaye Dia start against Martin Zubimendi’s side.

It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 20.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and AZ Alkmaar-Roma on the Liveblog.

The Biancocelesti are top of the Europa League table after six rounds and can already book their automatic place in the Round of 16 from this evening.

Coach Marco Baroni has a shortage of players in defence, because Luca Pellegrini and Samuel Gigot are both suspended, with Manuel Lazzari, Patric and Matias Vecino injured, plus Elseid Hysaj, Toma Basic, Gaetano Castrovilli and new signing Arjon Ibrahimovic are not eligible for the Europa League.

Nuno Tavares is not at 100 per cent either, but still starts at left-back for Lazio, while Dia and Castellanos start together in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN – JANUARY 02: Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad celebrates after scoring their team’s first goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Sociedad and Deportivo Alaves at Reale Arena on January 02, 2024 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Real Sociedad have just one long-term absentee in the squad, as Hamari Traoré ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.

They are 12th in the Europa League table on 10 points after victories over Maccabi Tel Aviv, Ajax and Dynamo Kyiv, but surprisingly lost to RSC Anderlecht and Viktoria Plzen.

Star midfielder Martin Zubimendi gets no rest, supporting centre-forward Mikel Oyarzabal and winger Takefusa Kubo.

Unfortunately, the build-up to this match was marred by violent clashes between circa 150 ultras, leaving nine Spanish supporters injured.

Lazio: Mandas; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Nuno Tavares; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen, Dia, Zaccagni; Castellanos

Real Sociedad: Remiro; Muñoz, Aguerd, Zubeldia, Aramburu; Kubo, Zubimendi, L Sucic, Becker; Oyarzabal, Méndez

Ref: Visser (BEL)