Lazio vs St Etienne - Pioli: Lazio have win at all costs attitude

Posted Thursday, October 01, 2015 by PA

Lazio coach Stefano Pioli wants his players to carry a "win at all costs" attitude into their Europa League home game against St Etienne at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday.

The Italians were held to a 1-1 draw at Dnipro in their Group G opener.

"Tomorrow's result will be very important for the group and we want to win at all costs," Pioli said to the Italian press.

"We respect our opponents but we need to play like Lazio. If we do, we have the possibility of winning."

Lazio bounced back from a 5-0 debacle at Napoli in Serie A with victories over Genoa and Hellas Verona.

Sunday's 2-1 win in Verona lifted the Biancoceleste to fifth in the standings, three points adrift of league leaders Fiorentina.

"We still have plenty of room for improvement and we need to continue our good run of form, not just in terms of results but of performances," Pioli said.

"We've had two good performances. We have to keep that good run of form as long as possible. Our aim is to always play in Europe."

Pioli is expected to rest defender Senad Lulic and striker Alessandro Matri.

Lazio have scored just once in their last three European home games but take on a French side that have never won or scored on Italian soil.

St Etienne travel to Rome looking to cap their 50th appeareance in European competition with a victory.

Les Vert were held to a 2-2 draw by Rosenborg BK in their pool opener.

Christophe Galtier's side saw their nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions halted on Sunday when they fell 4-1 at home to Nice.

"We failed," Galtier said to Ligue1.com.

"While we conceded four goals, we did create chances. But we couldn't convert them. We could have changed the course of the match but we weren't effective enough."