Sarri: "Tomorrow Is A Very Important Match, There Is A Round Of 16 At Stake. I Hope Lazio Can Change The Form From The First Leg, I Hope To See A Better Version Of Us."

Maurizio Sarri stated that Lazio is preparing for a very important match against Galatasaray which will take place on Thursday (09/12) evening local time. They will play with all their might to win and qualify for the next round without a playoff and enjoy two weeks off.

Lazio is currently second in the group standings three points behind leaders Galatasaray and a win will see them overtake Galatasaray. The group winners will go straight to the last 16 of the Europa League and Sarri is looking to get a chance to rest for two weeks while the others struggle to qualify for the last 32.

"Tomorrow is a very important match, there is a round of 16 at stake, it is important to qualify but qualifying straight for the last 16 will put us off training for two weeks which has not happened since August," Sarri said as quoted by Football-Italia.

"I hope Lazio can change the form from the first leg, I hope to see a better version of us, and that will be sorely needed, they lead the most complicated group in the Europa League, they haven't conceded an away goal in Europe this year."

The 62-year-old was asked if he believed the Biancoceleste could go all the way in the Europa League this season and the former Napoli and Juventus coach pointed to the need for luck in the knockout stages.

"It will depend on many factors, in the knockout stages, luck, especially in the draw," he said.

"The level is higher than the previous edition, with this new format, plus the top teams that have been knocked out of the Champions League."