Viola's dead rubber and Lazio's away challenge as the essence of the Conference League night
Reading Time: 1min | Thu. 23.02.23. | 14:14
Europe's third-best competition returns with plenty of evenly-matched teams and some interesting fixtures
The quest for the trophy Jose Mourinho won last season, the first one ever, of course, continues on Thursday with the second leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off stage.
Eight fixtures promise a lot of action and excitement among those, primarily mid-level clubs, with two Serie A outfits, Lazio and Fiorentina, being the most notable names on the list.
The latter are having a dead rubber at home against the Portuguese side Braga after Viola harassed the rival 4-0 in the first leg.
On the other hand, Lazio outplayed Cluj in Rome, 1-0. Besides Ciro Imobile's goal, they had several other clear-cut chances, even though Lazio played with ten men for almost 75 minutes after Patrick's expulsion.
Sergej Milinkovic Savic's team is a big favourite in the second leg as well, regardless of the fact that it is being played in Romania.
Cluj will be dreaming of a possible upset at home heading into the clash and they have a fully fit squad, giving coach Dan Petrescu flexibility in a number of positions.
UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE
Play-off - second leg
Thursday
20:45: (2.30) Dnipro-1 (3.30) AEK Larnaca (3.45)
20:45: (2.00) Partizan (3.35) Sheriff Tiraspol (3.90)
20:45: (1.95) Anderlecht (3.50) Ludogorets (4.40)
20:45: (4.30) Cluj (3.40) Lazio (2.00)
23:00: (2.35) Lech Poznan (3.40) Bodo (3.25)
23:00: (1.80) Fiorentina (3.70) Braga (5.00)
23:00: (1.95) Gent (3.50) Qarabag (4.40)
23:00: (2.40) Basel (3.40) Trabzon (3.15)
***odds are subject to change***
