Match preview

Although Lazio's 0-0 home draw with Ludogorets ended a 100% record in the league phase after four straight wins, the Rome club bounced straight back by beating Ajax last time out.

Having signed off their continental commitments for 2024 with an impressive 3-1 victory in Amsterdam, they top the standings on 16 points, having been joined on that mark by Real Sociedad's Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao.

The Biancocelesti are very much on track for automatic entry to the last 16, and at least a spot in the playoffs has already been secured.

In addition to their European exploits, Marco Baroni's men had been on the fringes of Scudetto contention until going winless in three straight league games for the first time this season - including a painful Derby della Capitale defeat to city rivals Roma.

Nonetheless, early goals from Samuel Gigot and Boulaye Dia helped them take control of Sunday's game against Serie A strugglers Hellas Verona, before captain Mattia Zaccagni sealed a 3-0 win over his old club.

Also through to the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, where they will meet Inter Milan next month, the capital club could now wrap up Europa League progress with one round remaining.

However, heading into a first-ever meeting with Real Sociedad, Lazio have won just one of their last 13 games against Spanish sides across all competitions, losing six of the last seven.

Similarly, La Real are winless in their last eight encounters with Serie A opponents, and they have never won a competitive contest on Italian soil.

After last month's Mikel Oyarzabal-led victory over Dynamo Kyiv, in which the Euro 2024 winner bagged a brace, the San Sebastian club sit 12th in the Europa League table.

Three points clear of elimination, but only one short of the all-important top eight, Imanol Alguacil's side have won eight of their last 14 matches in UEFA's second-tier competition - the last two by an aggregate score of 5-0.

Since that success against Dynamo, two Copa del Rey triumphs have set up a quarter-final with Osasuna, but their La Liga campaign suffered a setback last weekend, when losing to rock-bottom Valencia.

The Basque side may have struggled for consistency in the league this season - leaving them seventh in the standings - but conceding just five goals in 10 away games suggests they could prove tough to beat at Stadio Olimpico.

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Mandas; Marusic, Romagnoli, Gila, Pellegrini; Dele-Bashiru, Rovella; Tchaouna, Dia, Pedro; Castellanos

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Elustondo, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz; Kubo, Mendez, Zubimendi, Sucic, Gomez; Oyarzabal