Borussia Dortmund host Lazio in the Champions League on Wednesday, with the German side assured of qualification to the knockout stages for a third successive season should they avoid defeat.
Lazio, meanwhile, require a win to be certain of competing in the knockout stages for the first time since the 1999-00 campaign, but should Zenit St Petersburg beat Club Brugge in the other match in Group F, both Dortmund and the Italians will progress regardless of their result against each other.
Dortmund were hugely impressive in their second successive 3-0 victory over Brugge last week.
Lazio were equally impressive in another 3-1 victory, with Ciro Immobile and Marco Parolo giving the Italians a commanding lead during the first half of last week’s fixture against Zenit.
Given they are competing in the group stages for the first time since the 2007-08 season, progressing to the knockout stages would be a tremendous achievement for Simone Inzaghi and his side, even if the Rome-based club were arguably handed a favourable group.
However, the former Italy international will not allow his players to get ahead of themselves, especially with a final matchday showdown with Brugge still to come. A first defeat in this season’s competition at Dortmund on Wednesday would turn that last fixture into a decider for both teams if the Belgians avoid defeat to Zenit.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
The post Dortmund must avoid defeat to qualify against Lazio appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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