Lazio manager Marco Baroni expects his side to take the upcoming UEFA Europa League curtain-raising fixture against Dynamo Kyiv seriously. The experienced tactician sees Europe’s second-tier competition as an opportunity for his team ‘to grow.’
Baroni talked to the press in the build-up to Wednesday’s encounter at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg.
“It’s exciting and interesting. It’s a prestigious competition, and we have all difficult matches ahead,” the Lazio boss said, as reported by Gianluca Di Marzio. “The opponent is challenging, and there will be difficulties on the field. We need important games like this to grow.“
Lazio slumped to a stomach-wrenching 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina last weekend. Baroni suffered his second Serie A loss in charge of the capital-based outfit despite boasting a narrow halftime lead, thanks to Mario Gila’s opener.
It wasn’t an ideal warm-up for this clash, with Lazio bidding to improve on a disappointing group-stage exit in their last Europa League appearance in 2022/23. Baroni’s men have been inconsistent at the start of the new league campaign (W2, D1, L2) and could find this trip a perfect getaway.
Though the Ukrainians play their home matches on neutral ground, Lazio cannot afford to take this contest lightly. They’ve notoriously struggled on their European travels, picking up just one victory across their last 12 away matches in the Europa League proper (D2, L9).
Lazio can still take heart from their dominant record against Dynamo Kyiv. Except for a 2-2 Europa League draw in March 2018, they’ve won all three remaining European clashes against this opposition.
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