Needing to avoid defeat in Rome to maintain any hopes of UEFA Champions League progression, Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side arrived in Italy with their eyes set on picking up at least a point from a spirited Lazio outfit.
LAZ: Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Gabarron, Lazzari; Alberto, Rovella, Guendouzi; Anderson, Castellanos, Isaksen
CEL: Hart; Taylor, Scales, Carter-Vickers, Johnston; Bernardo, McGregor, O’Riley; Forrest, Furuhashi, Yang
Quality in front of goal would prove to be lacking at the Stadio Olympic on Tuesday, as Lazio left it late to seal a vital three points against a troubled Celtic side.
The visitors could have taken the lead early in the second half through Kyogo Furuhashi and Yang Hyun-jun, though their efforts were sent wide of the target and headed away from goal respectively.
But a resilient and disciplined defence ultimately shattered in the 82nd minute, Ciro Immobile arrived on the scene to smash Gustav Iasksen’s deflected cross past a despairing Joe Hart – before pouncing on a mistake from Liam Scales to complete his brace three minutes later.
Embed from Getty ImagesLazio sit at the top of Group D as a result, with Celtic’s final group stage game against Feyenoord now just a formality. Firstly though, Dutch will face Atletico Madrid at home later on Tuesday.
