Just two points separate the top three in Champions League Group E at the halfway stage, so there will be plenty at stake when third-placed Lazio host leaders Feyenoord on Tuesday.
Following last month's 3-1 defeat at De Kuip, the Serie A side stride out at Stadio Olimpico seeking a slice of revenge - and victory would see them overtake the Dutch champions in the table.
Match preview
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Continuing their inconsistent start to the season, Lazio were well beaten in an ill-tempered encounter with Feyenoord two weeks ago, having trailed by two goals at the interval and only managed a late consolation through Pedro's late spot-kick.
Their setback in Rotterdam came amid a promising run of three league wins on the spin, which had lifted Maurizio Sarri's men up the Serie A standings after a sluggish start left them languishing inside the bottom half - but that streak came to an end on Friday.
Unable to produce more than one shot on target at Bologna's Stadio Dall'Ara, with both second-half substitute Ciro Immobile and his deputy Taty Castellanos failing to make an impact, Lazio were beaten 1-0 by the Emilian club, who leapfrogged them in the table.
Ahead of next week's Derby della Capitale against city rivals Roma, the Biancocelesti will aim to bounce back by getting the better of Feyenoord for just the second time in six meetings, having won 4-2 against the Eredivisie side in last season's Europa League.
Overall, their target is to secure safe passage from Group E, and after taking four points from their first two fixtures they remain in contention to progress: dramatic stoppage-time strikes from goalkeeper Ivan Provedel and veteran winger Pedro clinched a point against Atletico Madrid and saw off Celtic respectively.
More goals seem to be guaranteed on Tuesday evening, as Lazio have not only scored in their last 15 Champions League group games but have not kept a single clean sheet throughout their last 22 matches in Europe's top club competition.
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Feyenoord may have gone without a win from their last five away games against Serie A sides - losing on two visits in the Europa League last season (both to Lazio and a 4-1 quarter-final defeat versus Roma) - but they will arrive in Italy this time as Group E leaders and some pundits' favourites to prevail.
Having won ten of their last 12 matches all told, the Dutch champions are also making a sturdy defence of their domestic title, although no team can live with Eredivisie leaders PSV, who have won every league game so far.
In addition to their sole Champions League loss - which came at the hands of Atletico - Arne Slot's side suffered a first league defeat against FC Twente at the end of October, but they responded by beating 10-man RKC Waalwijk on Sunday, with Quinten Timber and Bart Nieuwkoop getting the goals in a 2-1 away win.
After coming up short in the latter stages of both the Europa League and Conference League over the past two seasons, Feyenoord are making their Champions League return after a six-year absence, and they will return to continental action in midweek with every chance of making it past the group phase for the very first time.
The 1970 European champions have racked up seven goals in three games so far, with Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez - who has made a habit of scoring against Lazio in recent months - playing a major part by netting twice in the win at De Kuip.
Under attack-minded coach Slot, the Rotterdam side also average over three goals per game domestically, so their hosts' fragile back line may not sleep easily ahead of kickoff.
Team News
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After Ciro Immobile played only a cameo role in Lazio's disappointing defeat to Bologna last time out, their captain should return to the starting XI on Tuesday, with Taty Castellanos dropping out of an attacking trident.
Although far from assured of his place in that front three, Pedro has scored in both of his last two Champions League appearances, having netted just twice in the previous 35. With another strike in midweek, he would become only the second player aged 36 or above to score for three games on the spin in the competition, after Cristiano Ronaldo (five in 2021).
Maurizio Sarri may have several attacking options available, but two first-choice defenders are set to miss out against Feyenoord: Adam Marusic was withdrawn during the second half on Friday due to an ankle injury, while Nicolo Casale's thigh problem could keep him sidelined until after the upcoming international break.
Meanwhile, the visitors will again be without the services of captain Gernot Trauner, and Newcastle United loanee Yankuba Minteh is yet to return from a hamstring injury.
Although the Gambia international is unavailable, a timely recovery for Croatian winger Luka Ivanusec has boosted Feyenoord's firepower ahead of their trip to Stadio Olimpico; while the latter completed his return from a six-week layoff on Saturday, midfielder Mats Wieffer missed out due to illness.
At the group phase's midpoint, Calvin Stengs had created more chances (14) than any other player in the Champions League this season, half of which came in the 3-1 win over Lazio last time out.
Stengs starts in support of Santiago Gimenez, who struck two late consolation goals when these clubs last met in Rome. He then got the only goal in Rotterdam last autumn, before continuing the sequence by bagging a brace against the Biancocelesti a fortnight ago.
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Lazzari, Patric, Romagnoli, Hysaj; Guendouzi, Rovella, Alberto; Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Bijlow; Nieuwkoop, Geertruida, Hancko, Hartman; Zerrouki, Timber; Paixao, Stengs, Ivanusec; Gimenez
We say: Lazio 1-1 Feyenoord
After showing signs of improvement, Lazio have begun to falter again, and last season's Serie A runners-up currently lack conviction at both ends of the pitch. They are not short of European experience, though, and have proven they can fight until the final whistle in this year's group stage; therefore, free-scoring Feyenoord may have to settle for a point.
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Jonathan O'Shea
