Lazio vs Rosenborg - Lazio coach Stefano Pioli keen for Europa League response

Posted Thursday, October 22, 2015 by PA

Lazio coach Stefano Pioli has called on his team to wipe out the memory of their 2-1 defeat to Sassuolo when they take on Norwegian side Rosenborg in Europa League Group G in Rome on Thursday.

Lazio will look to put that shock Serie A defeat behind them and strengthen their hold on top spot in the group against a side closing in on the Norwegian Tippeligaen title.

Pioli told a press conference: "We're just working to do well: early in the season we struggled, now I'm seeing things are more interesting. We are growing, and the hope is to have good results."

Despite his optimism Pioli revealed the Lazio players wanted to get the Sassuolo result out of their systems.

"We are angry at the outcome, we paid dearly for some carelessness, from tomorrow I want to see improvements."

Pioli will be without captain Lucas Biglia and Filip Djordevic who are out because of injury.

Marco Parolo is missing for a month with a muscle strain suffered when he played for Italy against Azerbaijan in a Euro 2016 qualifying match.

Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij is sidelined by a knee injury which might require surgery and Keita Balde is out with a knee injury suffered in the defeat to Sassuolo in Serie A on Sunday.

Tests have shown a tear in Balde's medial ligament with the damage due to be further assessed next week.

In their last match Rosenborg missed the chance to seal the Norwegian title as a 1-1 draw with Bodo/Glimt left them nine points clear of rivals Stabaek with three games remaining and a much superior goal difference.

Rosenborg coach Kare Ingebrigtsen is without striker Andreas Helmersen for the Lazio game as he has ruptured knee ligaments.