Baroni wants Lazio to ‘prove maturity’ in clash with Juventus | OneFootball

Marco Baroni wants Lazio to ‘prove we are a mature team ready to play at the highest level’ in tonight’s head-to-head showdown with Juventus.

It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Milan-Udinese on the Liveblog.

These two teams go into the weekend level on 13 points each in Serie A, while they also won both European fixtures, as Lazio sit top of the big Europa League table on goal difference.

Baroni ambitious for Juventus-Lazio

Marco Baroni Lazio (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

“We need balance and to prove we are a mature team ready to play this game at the highest level, so we require determination and hunger,” Baroni told DAZN.

“These are the components that helped stand us apart so far this season. The team worked hard from the start, which allowed us to accelerate the process of some changes.”

Matteo Guendouzi returned from international duty with France suffering from a knock, but is passed fit to start, so Manuel Lazzari is the only absentee.

“Guendouzi is an important player, he wanted to be here for the game and he deserves to play.”

Considering how well Lazio are doing in both Serie A and the Europa League, Baroni was asked what their ambitions are for this season.

“We are trying not to lose our identity. Clearly, we are up against a strong opponent this evening with a fine coach, but we’ll do our talking on the pitch.

“What we cannot get wrong is the attitude, quality and spirit of sacrifice.”

It is a remarkable start to the season considering that fans were protesting the appointment of former Verona coach Baroni, feeling he represented a step down from Maurizio Sarri and Igor Tudor.