As Lazio and Porto prepare to face off in their upcoming Europa League match, both teams are dealing with various player availability issues and potential lineup changes.
For Lazio, captain Mattia Zaccagni has recovered from a recent illness and is expected to start after his crucial penalty goal against Cagliari. Nuno Tavares returns from suspension, bolstering the team’s options. However, Tijjani Noslin will be absent, serving the last game of his ban following a red card in the opening match against Dynamo Kyiv.
In defensive news, Manuel Lazzari could make his first start in the Europa League this season, having recently returned to the starting lineup in Serie A after a six-week absence.
Porto’s squad faces some challenges of its own. While Zaidu Sanusi is progressing in his recovery from an ACL injury, having played for the B team, the medical staff remains cautious about his return to first-team action. The team will also be without Ivan Marcano, who is still sidelined with a similar injury, and left-back Wendell, who is out due to a muscle issue.
On a positive note for Porto, Galeno is likely to feature in the starting lineup after an impressive performance as a substitute against Estoril, where he scored twice. His inclusion is expected, given his starts in Porto’s previous two European fixtures.
Lazio: Mandas; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Nuno Tavares; Vecino, Dele-Bashiru; Pedro, Dia, Zaccagni; Castellanos
Porto: Diogo Costa; Martim Fernandes, Perez, Tiago Djalo, Moura; Varela, Nico, Ivan Jaime; Pepe, Samu, Galeno
