Depleted Lazio travel to Belgium with only 16 players
Bruges, Belgium, Oct 27, 2020 (AFP) - Lazio have travelled to Belgium for Wednesday's Champions League game against Club Brugge with a depleted squad after a coronavirus scare in the Italian team left many top players at home.
"We're 16 here and tomorrow the club will issue a statement before the match based on the Covid-19 situation," coach Simone Inzaghi told a press conference at the Jan Breydel Stadium on Tuesday.
Inzaghi did not name the players who remained behind but Italian media reported they included star striker Ciro Immobile, midfielders Luis Alberto, Manuel Lazzari, Lucas Leiva and Djavan Anderson.
Lazio, returning to the Champions League after 13 years, are top of Group F along with Club Brugge, after both teams won their opening matches.
"We have players who have remained in Rome. We didn't expect this, we had a good start against Borussia Dortmund and we wanted to come here with a full squad," continued Inzaghi.
Inzaghi said some players were having further tests and could still join the team on Wednesday.
"We are considering whether to pick up someone from Rome tomorrow, they are completing the last swabs.
"But I think the 12 who are here will play the game, then we'll see if we can add someone.
"Unfortunately, this is the current situation, I'm sure that whoever takes the pitch will give their best for the Lazio jersey."
HEADLINES
- Mbappe 'confident' PSG will fight back, reach Champions League final
- 3 things PSG must change to avoid another Champions League failure
- How Bayern rattled Madrid, and what each team can do to reach UCL final
- Mbappe, PSG aim to seize moment in UCL semifinal
- How Champions League semifinalists are shaping up before decisive clashes