One of the two Celtic fans stabbed in Rome on Wednesday night headed to the Olympic Stadium for the big game last night despite being hospitalised with a knife wound to his back.
Two Hoops supporters were attacked with knives outside the Flann O’Brien Irish bar on Via Internazionale after they were ambushed by Lazio ultras.
Five men were later arrested by Italian police over the incident.
And the manager of the Flann O’Brien bar last night told the Record the one of the Hoops fans stabbed is “doing well” and was going to the powder keg Europa League game with Lazio as planned.
He said: "I spoke with another fan earlier today and he told me the boy has been discharged from hospital and is going to the match."
The manager, who has owned the bar for 23 years, said he witnessed the shocking attack at around 11pm on Wednesday.
He added: "A group of masked Italian men approached Celtic fans on the street. They were shouting abuse and looking for trouble and before we knew it
"It only lasted about 15 seconds but one of them must have had a knife and stabbed one of the fans in the back.
"We rushed him inside and phoned an ambulance. We made sure nobody else could get in whilst we waiting on police and paramedics arriving.
"What happened came out of nowhere. Nothing like this has ever happened here before in the 23 years we have had the place. We are a quiet, family run establishment."
Despite Wednesday night’s trouble the manager says Celt fans are still in high spirits and were back in the bar ahead of the game yesterday.
He continued: "Apart from last night's trouble the atmosphere has been great. The Celtic fans have been brilliant and are really happy and excited about tonight's game.
"We are all hoping for no more trouble."
