AC Milan vs Lazio
2016/17 Italian Serie A.
Date: Tuesday, 20 September 2016
Kick-Off: 19:45 UK,
Venue: Stadio San Siro (Milan).
2016/17 Italian Serie A.
Date: Tuesday, 20 September 2016
Kick-Off: 19:45 UK,
Venue: Stadio San Siro (Milan).
Both AC Milan and Lazio will be hoping to make it back-to-back victories as they lock horns at the Stadio San Siro on Tuesday evening.
After a good start, the Rossoneri slumped to two consecutive losses before rebounding with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Sampdoria on Friday. The result sees Vincenzo Montella’s side sitting in tenth spot as they hope to end their long hiatus from European football. This season marks the third straight campaign that Milan are not featuring in Europe, and they will be loath to make it a fourth for the 2017/2017 term.
Of course, that will be much easier said than done. Despite the win over Samp, it was by far from a convincing performance by Milan, and they will be welcoming a Lazio side full of confidence after easily brushing aside Pescara 3-0. The hosts also will have to make do without a crop of players due to injury, including Andrea Bertolacci, Cristian Zapata, Luca Antonelli, and possibly Mattia De Sciglio. All are defensive options Montella surely would have wanted to count, whilst Mati Fernandez will also miss out.
Meanwhile, Simone Inzaghi’s side are also one in transition, but appear to be clicking a lot faster than their upcoming opponents. The Aquile have indeed played some entertaining football this season, and kick-started their campaign with a thrilling 4-3 win over Atalanta. Although they were again unable to get the better of Juventus, the Bianconeri did not have it easy and only defeated them 1-0. This was then followed up with a draw with Chievo, and finally a good showing to trounce Pescara 3-0.
For all intents and purposes, things look promising for Lazio and they now will be looking to take advantage of a Milan side still struggling to find their identity.
AC Milan vs Lazio: Head-to-head statistics
- AC Milan have lost only one out of their last 16 fixtures at home against Lazio.
- The Biancocelesti, however, beat them in the Coppa Italia at the San Siro back in February 2015.
- The Rossoneri have won nine, drawn eight, and lost three of their past 20 home games against teams ranked higher than them in the table.
- Lazio, meanwhile, have won three, drawn three, and lost 14 out of their last 20 away games against teams ranked lower than them in the table.
- The last time this fixture finished scoreless was in February 2011.
- In Serie A, Milan’s last loss to Lazio was in January 2015
AC Milan vs Lazio: Prediction
Although Milan have the historical advantage in this fixture, the Rossoneri have only won once at home since February. By contrast, Lazio have only lost twice on the road since November and as noted before, they finally picked up a win at the Stadio San Siro in Coppa Italia action in February 2015. That ended as a 1-0 result and also was the last time both sides did not manage to score.
With that in mind, neither side are expected to keep a clean sheet in this fixture. Last season, Lazio won one and drew the other of their two Serie A meetings, with the 1-1 stalemate taking place at the Stadio San Siro.
Lazio should have no problems picking up at least a point from this fixture. A repeat of the 1-1 result from last season is certainly not an unrealistic result for this match.
MATCH PREVIEW
Serie A Week 5 - 20 Sep 2016 (19.45 UK)
Milan - Lazio
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
Milan will look to build on a hard-fought victory against Sampdoria as they entertain Lazio on Tuesday.
The Rossoneri picked up their second win of the season on Friday night thanks to some good luck and strong performances from some of their key players.
Milan battled well and Carlos Bacca, having been dropped for summer signing Gianluca Lapadula, came off the bench to net the winner five minutes from the death. His presence was missed up front in the first half as, for the second game in a row, they failed to register a single shot on target in the first 45.
The key role Bacca played in the victory will give Vincenzo Montella a decision to make, with the striker likely to find himself back in the starting lineup.
Having played with a deep defensive line in Genoa they may opt to do the same again to prevent their experienced defenders from being caught out by the pace of Lazio’s front line.
The return of Juraj Kucka from suspension will give the Milan coach a potential extra option in midfield. Meanwhile Andrea Bertolacci and Cristian Zapata will miss out through injury.
Lazio will look to build on Saturday’s home win against Pescara as they face the trip north. Where once this trip might have been an intimidating prospect the Biancocelesti will be confident that they can come away with a result.
Their thumping 3-0 win over Pescara on Saturday will have boosted morale as they clinched their second win of the season to move them in to fourth position. The Aquile left it late but three goals in nine second half minutes were enough to seal the three points for Simone Inzaghi’s men.
Lazio will have to focus on their defending as they are likely to face a significantly greater threat than Pescara posed at the weekend, and their back three of Stefan Radu, Stefan De Vrij and Bastos will be prepared for a busy evening.
The coach will have a decision to make as to whether to stick with the 3-5-2 which proved successful against Pescara or to opt for a more conservative formation.
He will be hoping for another strong performance from wide players Felipe Anderson and Senad Lulić to take advantage of any space left by Ignazio Abate’s forward runs and to put pressure on inexperienced left back Davide Calabria.
Striker Ciro Immobile will be looking to add to his second goal of the season scored on Saturday, and a strong performance from him may be key to Lazio’s hopes of a win.
Captain Lucas Biglia is unlikely to be fit enough to return to the squad, and his experience is sure to be missed.
Keep an eye on: Carlos Bacca (Milan) – Following reports of a ‘bust-up’ with manager Montella, the player answered his critics in style with the winning goal against Sampdoria. He will be looking to prove his critics wrong again with a strong performance at the San Siro.
Form Guide: Milan (W L L W -) Lazio (W D L W -)
Last season: Milan 1 Lazio 1
Stat fact: In their last 20 Serie A trips to the San Siro to play AC Milan Lazio have kept only one clean sheet, in 2011.
Top tip: Carlos Bacca to score anytime.
Milan (Probable): Donnarumma; Abate, Paletta, Romagnoli, Calabria; Kucka, Montolivo, Bonaventura; Niang, Bacca, Suso
Suspended: None
Lazio (Probable): Marchetti; Bastos, De Vrij, Radu; Felipe Anderson, Parolo, Cataldi, Milinković-Savić, Lulić; Immobile, Djordjevic
Suspended: None
Words: Stuart Monteith @StuartonSport
The Rossoneri picked up their second win of the season on Friday night thanks to some good luck and strong performances from some of their key players.
Milan battled well and Carlos Bacca, having been dropped for summer signing Gianluca Lapadula, came off the bench to net the winner five minutes from the death. His presence was missed up front in the first half as, for the second game in a row, they failed to register a single shot on target in the first 45.
The key role Bacca played in the victory will give Vincenzo Montella a decision to make, with the striker likely to find himself back in the starting lineup.
Having played with a deep defensive line in Genoa they may opt to do the same again to prevent their experienced defenders from being caught out by the pace of Lazio’s front line.
The return of Juraj Kucka from suspension will give the Milan coach a potential extra option in midfield. Meanwhile Andrea Bertolacci and Cristian Zapata will miss out through injury.
Lazio will look to build on Saturday’s home win against Pescara as they face the trip north. Where once this trip might have been an intimidating prospect the Biancocelesti will be confident that they can come away with a result.
Their thumping 3-0 win over Pescara on Saturday will have boosted morale as they clinched their second win of the season to move them in to fourth position. The Aquile left it late but three goals in nine second half minutes were enough to seal the three points for Simone Inzaghi’s men.
Lazio will have to focus on their defending as they are likely to face a significantly greater threat than Pescara posed at the weekend, and their back three of Stefan Radu, Stefan De Vrij and Bastos will be prepared for a busy evening.
The coach will have a decision to make as to whether to stick with the 3-5-2 which proved successful against Pescara or to opt for a more conservative formation.
He will be hoping for another strong performance from wide players Felipe Anderson and Senad Lulić to take advantage of any space left by Ignazio Abate’s forward runs and to put pressure on inexperienced left back Davide Calabria.
Striker Ciro Immobile will be looking to add to his second goal of the season scored on Saturday, and a strong performance from him may be key to Lazio’s hopes of a win.
Captain Lucas Biglia is unlikely to be fit enough to return to the squad, and his experience is sure to be missed.
Keep an eye on: Carlos Bacca (Milan) – Following reports of a ‘bust-up’ with manager Montella, the player answered his critics in style with the winning goal against Sampdoria. He will be looking to prove his critics wrong again with a strong performance at the San Siro.
Form Guide: Milan (W L L W -) Lazio (W D L W -)
Last season: Milan 1 Lazio 1
Stat fact: In their last 20 Serie A trips to the San Siro to play AC Milan Lazio have kept only one clean sheet, in 2011.
Top tip: Carlos Bacca to score anytime.
Milan (Probable): Donnarumma; Abate, Paletta, Romagnoli, Calabria; Kucka, Montolivo, Bonaventura; Niang, Bacca, Suso
Suspended: None
Lazio (Probable): Marchetti; Bastos, De Vrij, Radu; Felipe Anderson, Parolo, Cataldi, Milinković-Savić, Lulić; Immobile, Djordjevic
Suspended: None
Words: Stuart Monteith @StuartonSport
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