Mark Devlin 
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Celtic host Italian outfit Lazio in matchday three of the Europa League Group E on Thursday.
The Hoops currently lead the way in the group having drawn and won their opening two games. Their last result ended in a 2-0 win over CFR Cluj thanks to goals in either half from Odsonne Edouard and Mohamed Elyounoussi.
Thursday’s opponents Lazio sit third in Group E. They suffered a 2-1 defeat to Cluj in their opening match, though salvaged a win in their next fixture against Stade Rennes two weeks ago.
Domestic form looks very different for the Hoops as it does the Eagles. Neil Lennon’s side cruised to a convincing 6-0 home win over Ross County on Saturday to see them go top of the Premiership table once again.
Lazio have endured a very mixed start to life in Serie A this season. They’re currently seventh having won three and drawn three games. They were 3-0 down to Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico after 37 minutes last weekend, though clawed their way back in the second-half; they scored three goals in the final 21 minutes and snatched a last-minute equaliser thanks to star striker and Italian international Ciro Immobile.
As well as Immobile, Simone Inzaghi’s side have a host of quality players that Celtic must look out for: Defender Jordan Lukaku (who, funnily enough, is Bollingoli’s cousin), midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Luis Alberto, Joaquin Correa and Felipe Caicedo.
This will be the first meeting between the sides in competitive competitions and it’s sure to be a great one. Very little can rival a packed-out Celtic Park on a European night.
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It will be a hotly contested game, for sure. The Hoops will be brimming with confidence after their recent 6-0 win domestically, as well as having that advantage of already being Group E leaders.
It can never be downplayed just how much home advantage can impact a game; the fans really are the twelfth man, especially in games like this. Lennon and co know all about that Celtic Park atmosphere and have the quality to match it in a game of this magnitude.
Score prediction: Celtic 2-1 Lazio
