Vitesse v Lazio background

• #EQUALGAME
This week, football fans watching UEFA Europa League matches in stadiums, online and on TV will witness the premiere of the new UEFA RESPECT TV ads, called #EqualGame. The adverts feature Ada Hegerberg, Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba, Cristiano Ronaldo and amateur players and will run throughout the season to promote inclusion, diversity and accessibility in European Football with the motto "Everyone has the right to enjoy football, no matter who you are, where you're from, or how you play." More information on the campaign and on the advertisements can be found in the accompanying media release and on the campaign website: www.equalgame.com.

Vitesse have been going through a barren spell in Europe, but will hope that the goals – and UEFA Europa League Group K points – start flowing as Lazio return to the Netherlands.

Previous meetings
• The teams are meeting for the first time in UEFA competiton.

• Vitesse's record in four matches with Italian sides is W1 D2 L1 (W1 D1 in Arnhem).

• Lazio's four previous games against Dutch opponents ended W1 D1 L2 (D1 L1 in the Netherlands).

Form guide
• Vitesse are without a win in six European fixtures (D1 L5 – including three straight home defeats), scoring just twice during that run.

• Lazio are unbeaten in five European away matches – a victory and four 1-1 draws.

• Fifth in the Netherlands last term, Arnhem-based Vitesse are featuring in the group stage of a UEFA competition for the first time having won the Dutch Cup, their maiden major trophy.

• Beaten UEFA Cup finalists in 1998 (and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winners the following year), Lazio are back in the UEFA Europa League after a one-season absence, having reached the last 16 in 2015/16.

Links and trivia
• The journey from Rome to Arnhem is around 1,200km.

• Vitesse strikers Tim Matavž (Genoa, 2016) and Luc Castaignos (Internazionale, 2011–12) both played in Italy, but neither figured against Lazio.

• Lazio have Dutch talent in the form of defender Stefan de Vrij, who played in the senior ranks for Feyenoord (2009–14).

The coaches
• Vitesse coach since 2016, leading them to their historic Dutch Cup triumph last season, Surinam-born Henk Fraser was capped seven times by the Netherlands as a defender, spending the bulk of his playing career at Feyenoord, where he was later a youth coach. He took his first senior job at Den Haag from 2014–16.

• Lazio boss since 2016, Simone Inzaghi represented the club as a forward from 1999–2010, and stayed on to coach the club's youth teams. He is the younger brother of fellow ex-Italian international Filippo Inzaghi, the pair initially playing together at home-town club Piacenza.