(Football news) The German champions have advanced to the quarterfinals for three consecutive years and are ultimately seeking a sixth European title, while the Serie A team is hoping to make its first quarterfinal appearance in 24 years.

Lazio’s domestic campaign hasn’t exactly gone as planned, but they’re back in the Champions League elimination round after a wild group stage campaign.

Due to an underlying inconsistency, the Biancocelesti, who finished second to Italian champions Napoli last season, are currently ninth in the Serie A rankings. They only halted a three-match winless streak last week with a victory at Cagliari, and they are five points outside of the top four. 

After the team’s humiliating Supercoppa Italiana defeat to Inter Milan in the opening match of that series, club president Claudio Lotito had to publicly reassure head coach Maurizio Sarri that his job was safe.

Lazio was highly dependent on home advantage during the autumn to get them through Group E, as they won two and drew one of their three games in Rome, finishing second to Atletico Madrid but ahead of both Feyenoord and Celtic.

The highlight of the match was definitely goalkeeper Ivan Provedel’s ridiculously unlikely late equaliser against Atletico, which allowed Sarri’s team to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages for the third time. 

Lazio was eliminated right away the two times it happened, against Valencia in 2000 and by none other than Bayern Munich in 2021.

Three years ago, the German powerhouses defeated the Biancocelesti 4-1 at Stadio Olimpico and 2-1 in Bavaria, taking the lead in both legs of the teams’ last-16 match. Sarri’s first goal after Wednesday’s game will consequently be to just maintain the tie.

Also read: AC Milan will play Rennes in EUL