Viktoria Plzen-Lazio: Eaglets in Czech Republic for the first leg, lineups and TV schedules

Pilsen 5 May 2025 - There is no more room for mistakes, there is no more room to correct the shot or maybe recover points in the next matches, now it is all or nothing in two matches. The knockout phase of theEuropa League also for the Lazio and on his way he crosses paths with Viktoria Plzen, a team from the Czech Republic, who have already faced Italian teams in continental competitions on several occasions in the recent past. The clash itself is however unprecedented in international football and will see the team that has been the best in the competition so far, the Biancocelesti, face a team that aspires to be the spoilsport, having reached the knockout stage despite a very complicated calendar. The first leg kicks off at 21:6 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday 2025 March XNUMX, in the Doosan Arena in Pilsen.

The red and blues of the Czech Republic are a fairly young team, but they are led by an old fox of Central European football, namely Miroslav Koubek, in office since 2003 and at his third experience on the bench of the ViktoriaThey reached the round of 16 by eliminating the two-legged tie Ferencvaros, overturning the 3-0 defeat suffered in Hungary with a clear 1-0 at home. The star of the team is the playmaker Paul Sulc, starting attacking midfielder also in the national team. A very physical team, that loves vertical play, when they find rhythm they are difficult to contain. As previously written, Italian teams are not new to these parts, the one against the Biancocelesti will in fact be the 13th clash in the history of the club against an Italian team. The overall record is 3 wins, 3 draws and 6 defeats, against Roma, Inter, Milan e Fiorentina. They are currently second in the league table at home behind Slavia Prague. 

On the other side of the fence, however, on paper the match is a one-sided affair. The journey in Europa League so far from here Viktoria Plzen It was satisfying and interesting, but we are still talking about the team that finished in seventeenth place in its championship phase. On the other hand, the Lazio has imposed itself in the competition: top of the table from the first to the last day, also obtaining the certainty of the passage to the eighth finals with two days to spare, beating all the rivals in the meantime. Dominant in every single performance, in the championship the biancocelesti are experiencing a very close fight with the Juventus for fourth place in the standings. A long-distance challenge that is taking away a lot of energy from the Capitoline team and could potentially also represent an obstacle in this double confrontation. Precisely for this reason, no calculations can be made, FRAME Baroni he also explained it in the press conference, there is no tomorrow after this match and the double confrontation cannot be managed. The objective at the Doosan Arena is to win to immediately secure the passage to the next round, but be careful of the environmental factor: in terms of capacity, the Czech stadium is small (about 12 thousand seats), but hot like few others.

The referee designation for the first leg of the round of 16 UEFA Europa League has assigned the direction of the race between Viktoria Plzen e Lazio in Lithuanian Donatas Rumsas. The Baltic referee will be assisted by his compatriots, Aleksandr Radius and Dovydas Suziedelis, with the fourth Lithuanian official Manfredas Lukjancukas. In the VAR room there will be a German in Benjamin Brand supported by another Lithuanian referee, Donatas Simenas. Referee born in '88 for Rumsas This will be his 12th direction of the season, his third in Europa League, including preliminaries, to which he adds another 7 between Champions, Conference and Nations League. He also has direct matches in Saudi Arabia and Cyprus this football season. As for the two teams, this will be Rumsas' second meeting with both teams, both of which were won by the teams playing tomorrow.

Probable lineups

For the challenge against the Capitoline team, Koubek should rely on the best players at his disposal. In front of Jedlicka then the three-way line is ready, composed of Dweh, Marković e Jemelka, with Paluska in the running for a starting shirt in this four-way battle for three spots. In midfield cerv and captain Kalvash will dictate the tempo of the game, but will have many more tasks in the interdiction phase. The ball will instead pass a lot between the feet of Sulc, the real brain and talent of the team, deployed in the three-quarter line for the match at the Doosan Arena. Meme on the right he is in a ballot with Havel for the role of starter, while Cadu will act on the opposite flank. In attack the former Udinese Otter together with Durosinmi will lead the rossoblù offensive.  

Baroni undecided about the role of goalkeeper, with mandas slightly favored over Provedel, while there are few doubts for the rest of the formation, given the many injuries currently to be overcome. In defense Lazzari right and Nuno tavares on the left they will flank the couple Leg e Romagnoli in the center of the department. In the middle the pair composed of Guendouzi e rovella, with Vecino as a card in the race in progress. In three-quarters there is no Weather in Zaccagni, Pedro will be his replacement with Day e Isaac to complete the department. In attack noslin he is the favourite for the role of centre-forward. 

Viktoria Plzen (3-4-1-2)Jedlicka; Dweh, Markovic, Jemelka; Memic, Cerv, Kalvach, Cadu; Sulc; Vydra, Durosinmi. Coach Miroslav Koubek.

Lazio (4-2-3-1) Mandas; Lazzari, Gigot, Romagnoli, Nuno Tavares; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen, Dia, Pedro; Noslin. All. Marco Baroni.

Where to watch the match

The match between Viktoria Plzen e Lazio of the Doosan Arena, valid for the first leg of the round of 16 of the knockout stage of Europa League, will start at 21pm on Thursday 6 March 2025. There will be several options available to watch the match. The match will be visible on satellite on the platform Sky, its Sky Sports channel 253. The match will also be available in streaming on NOW for those who have subscribed to the platform and on Sky Go for those who have a season ticket Sky. You can follow the match by downloading the app on your smart TV or by connecting the TV to a PlayStation 4/5, Xbox console, or to a TIMVISION BOX, to an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Google Chromecast device. Viewing also possible via app or website NOW on tablets, PCs and smartphones. The commentary of the challenge will be entrusted to Paolo Ciarravano and Nando Orsi.