Lazio manager Marco Baroni has urged his side not to take upcoming UEFA Europa League rivals Twente lightly. The Biancocelesti will take on the Eredivisie side at De Grolsch Veste later tonight, seeking redemption for a narrow 1-0 Serie A defeat at Juventus last weekend.
Despite their recent slump, Lazio have excelled in Europe this season. After a thumping 3-0 away win against Dynamo Kyiv on the opening Europa League matchday, they hammered OGC Nice 4-1 on a rainy night at the Stadio Olimpico.
As a result of their outstanding start, Lazio headed into round three as the highest-ranked side in the 36-team table. However, Baroni is desperate to prevent complacency from creeping in. He insists Twente deserve the benefit of the doubt.
“It’s a young team that plays good football and has performed well in the two cup matches,” the Lazio boss said, as reported by Gianluca Di Marzio. “It will be a challenging test, especially since it’s at their home ground with the support of their fans. We know that tomorrow, we need to deliver a top-level performance in terms of sacrifice and intensity, as well as quality.
“We want to compete in all our objectives,” the Lazio coach continued. “Ordinary motivations won’t be enough; we need something extraordinary. It’s a match with the best conditions: a beautiful stadium and a young opponent who plays well with enthusiasm. We will need quality, sacrifice, and compactness while showcasing good football.“
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