Lazio: Eyes on UEFA Europa League Glory | OneFootball

After the disappointment of last season, few Lazio fans went into this campaign confident that it would be one to remember. Yet, in a testament to the unpredictability of football, that’s just what it might turn out to be.

Marco Baroni has worked wonders at the Stadio Olimpico since taking over last June, strengthening Lazio domestically and showing that they can be a force in Europe. Whatever happens, the signs are good that Baroni and the Biancocelesti are a good fit.

The question now is, how good could this season be, and can it end with UEFA Europa League glory in the San Mamés stadium in Spain?

Can Lazio Go All The Way in the UEFA Europa League?

Lazio’s performances in Europe this season have already shown that they have what it takes to win the Europa League, but of course, they’re not the only team with an eye on glory. Take a look at online betting at Wildz, and you’ll see that Manchester United, Tottenham, and Athletic Bilbao all have better odds than Lazio to lift the trophy.

If Lazio are to win, they’ll need to overcome those international heavyweights. With that said, none of those teams are clear favourites, and Manchester United and Tottenham in particular are having poor seasons by their usual lofty standards. That’ll give Lazio confidence that they can get their hands on the Europa League trophy for the first time in their history.

Indeed, based on form alone, most neutral observers would agree that Lazio should be favourites in any games they play against Manchester United and Tottenham. They may be bigger names, but speak to fans of either of those clubs, and they’ll tell you that they’re having a season to forget.

That doesn’t mean that Lazio can be confident that they’ll stroll past the Premier League giants, but there’s probably never been a better time to come up against them.

Winning Big Games Has Proven Difficult…

One potential sticking point for Lazio’s quest for Europa League success is the difficulty they’ve had during big games so far this season.

Domestically, all of the team’s most disappointing matches have come against the ‘big’ teams. It hasn’t just been that Lazio have lost those games, but rather, that they never really looked like winning any of them.

And part of that is, oddly, having too much confidence. Lazio haven’t abandoned their attacking principles even when coming up against teams who were more than capable of punishing them for their openness — and that’s just what’s happened.

That’ll be cause for concern for fans hoping to end the season with the Europa League trophy. The vast majority of Lazio’s continental games have come against teams of equal parity. If they come up against a giant, then their attacking philosophy may prove a hindrance.

Will A Potential Top Four Finish Be a Distraction?

Winning the Europa League guarantees a place in next season’s Champions League, but so does finishing in the top four. As it stands, Lazio are in a good position to end up in fourth place — or perhaps even higher, if things go their way.

While the club will certainly prioritize winning the Europa League over a top-four place, the distraction of fighting on two fronts may prove too much. In the worst-case scenario, Lazio fall away to a mid-table finish and fail to reach the Europa League Final.

Lazio: Full of Belief in the UEFA Europa League

For their part, Lazio are full of belief that they can go on to lift the UEFA Europa League trophy for the first time — and rightly so. Baroni believes in his players and his players believe in him. With that attitude, there’s every chance that this does indeed become a season to remember.