Maurizio Sarri, the manager of Lazio, expressed his desire for his team to face Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.
Despite both Lazio and Barcelona experiencing defeats on the final day of the group stage, they successfully advanced to the knockout phase.
Having secured their place in the Champions League after a three-year absence following a second-place finish in Serie A last season, Lazio competed in a challenging group alongside Atletico Madrid, Feyenoord, and Celtic, ultimately finishing second, four points behind Atletico Madrid in Group E.
In his post-match press conference after Lazio’s qualification to the last-16, Sarri conveyed his preference, stating, “I’d like to face Barcelona in the UCL round of 16, honestly. It’d be my pick as I’ve never faced Barça as a coach, and it’d be a wonderful experience.”