Boro look to build on away success

Middlesbrough FC continued their successful entry into UEFA club competitions with a 1-0 win at Egaleo FC in their opening group game, thanks to a 78th minute goal from substitute Stuart Downing.

Away win
The success also provided the bonus of an away win in the four-game competition. The win came on top of a successful debut in the first round when the English League Cup winners accounted for Czech Republic champions FK Baník Ostrava with a 3-0 win at the Riverside and a 1-1 draw at Ostrava.

Familiar territory
S.S. Lazio, who dropped home points in a 1-1 draw with Villarreal CF in their opening group game, have been familiar opposition to English clubs in recent seasons. After meeting Ipswich Town FC in the 1973/74 UEFA Cup second round, when Ipswich won 6-4 on aggregate, Lazio waited 26 years for their next outing against an English side, when they beat Manchester United FC 1-0 in the 1999 UEFA Super Cup. The UEFA Champions League has been the setting for the several recent meetings with Lazio playing Chelsea FC in 1999/2000, followed by Arsenal FC and Leeds United AFC the following season. Last season Chelsea won both games against the Italians.

Roman revenge?
Lazio will be looking to redress the balance against English clubs. Their only win in England was in March 2000 at Chelsea (2-1), and, since then, they have not won either at home or away against English teams in the last six games, while suffering four defeats in that time with two draws.