Three Real Sociedad fans stabbed in Rome ahead of Lazio match

ROME (Reuters) -Nine Real Sociedad fans were injured, including one left in a critical state, during clashes with Lazio supporters on the eve of Thursday's Europa League match between the two teams, Rome police said.

About 70 Spanish fans were attacked by around 80 Lazio supporters in the central Via Leonina, near the Colosseum, at about 11 p.m. (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, a police spokesperson said.

Six of the nine people injured were taken to hospital and four were discharged overnight. Of the two still in hospital, one was in a critical, but not life-threatening, condition, police said.

In a statement, Lazio said it condemned "all forms of violence." The club offered to cooperate with authorities and said it would take harsh measures if any of the fans' involvement was proven by investigations.

Police said attackers used blunt objects and knives and they released a picture of weapons presumed to have been used in the assault, including a hammer, sticks and batons, wrenches and a chain.

The attackers fled as the police arrived, the spokesperson said.

(Reporting by Alvise Armellini; Editing by Alison Williams, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Ken Ferris)