AC Milan will look to build upon their win over Inter Milan by putting SS Lazio to the sword and progressing to the Coppa Italia semifinals.
Italian giants AC Milan go into their Coppa Italia quarter-final against SS Lazio in high spirits following a come-from-behind win over Inter Milan at the weekend.
An Olivier Giroud double saw the Rossoneri get the better of the Serie A champions and blow open the title race. In a season where Milan have often shot themselves in the foot, the coming few games could set the stage for Stefano Pioli’s side to redeem themselves and end the campaign on a high.
A win on the night will see Milan enter the semifinal stage of the competition for the third time in four seasons. However, they have failed to make their chances count and have not won the competition since 2003.
Milan and Lazio have faced off twice at the semifinal stage of the cup in the last five years, with each team coming out on top once. Milan won the tie in 2018, falling to Juventus in the final, while Lazio exacted revenge the following year and went on to lift the trophy.
Lazio, for their part, have not won the competition since 2019 and have been eliminated at the quarterfinal stage the last two years. They will be keen to avoid a hat-trick and will look to bring Milan back to earth in front of their home crowd. Usually a fortress, the Rossoneri have won just two of their last ten games at the San Siro in regulation time and could be there for the taking.
The Coppa Italia represents Lazio’s best chance of a trophy this season, and they appear to be coming into form at the right moment. Maurizio Sarri’s side are unbeaten in their last four games and will arrive in Milan with the confidence to get a result. The onus will be on Pioli and his men to ensure that the morale boost they received by defeating Inter does not fizz out prematurely.
The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
AC Milan
Milanello: as busy as can be towards Wednesday's Coppa Italia matchup ?⚔️#MilanLazio #CoppaItaliaFrecciarossa #SempreMilan
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— AC Milan (@acmilan) February 7, 2022
Speaking in his pre-match presser, Pioli admitted that he will deploy a strong team on the night as he targets glory in the Coppa Italia. Despite his intentions, the Milan boss will have a few decisions to make.
Star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is unavailable for the game as he continues to recover from an Achilles tendon injury. Fikayo Tomori returned to the bench against Inter and could feature against Lazio in some capacity. Meanwhile, Theo Hernandez, who was sent off against Inter, looks set to start on the night given that he will be unavailable against Sampdoria on Sunday. Fode Ballo-Toure is back from the Africa Cup of Nations but is unlikely to feature on the night.
Pioli has more often than not opted to deploy his side in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and there is little reason to suggest that he will do otherwise against Lazio. Mike Maignan is sure to start in goal behind a back four of Davide Calabria, Fikayo Tomori, Alessio Romagnoli and Hernandez.
Sandro Tonali was impressive against Inter and will form the double pivot with Franck Kessie. How the duo establish control in the middle of the park could determine the game’s outcome. The solid foundation they provide could give the trio of Rafael Leao, Brahim Diaz and Junior Messias the freedom to push forward.
Olivier Giroud was the hero at the weekend and appears set to be rewarded with a starting spot. Milan will hope that he continues to showcase his clinical side against Sarri’s men.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Clabria, Tomori, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Kessie, Tonali; Leao, Diaz, Messias; Giroud
Lazio
Sarri’s side enjoyed a difficult start to the season but have begun to assert themselves of late. Le Aquile have an outside chance of making it to the top four of the Serie A, but the Coppa Italia represents the best chance for them to win a trophy.
Lazio will be without the services of Francesco Acerbi and Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, who remain unavailable through injury. Spanish veteran Pedro returned to the lineup at the weekend and is likely to keep his place in the first XI.
? La squadra è in partenza dall'aeroporto di Fiumicino!
Destinazione: ? Milano#CMonEagles ? pic.twitter.com/rdi81pf0Bx
— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) February 8, 2022
Sarri could deploy his side in a 4-3-3 system that has shown itself to be fluid this season. Thomas Strakohsa is expected to start in goal behind the back four of Elseid Hysaj, Luiz Felipe, Patric and Adam Marusic. Danilo Cataldi is likely to replace Lucas Leiva in central midfield, but Luis Alberto and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic are likely to keep their places in midfield.
The front three will be led by Ciro Immobile, who is currently in a hot streak of form. The Italian veteran has netted in five of Lazio’s last six games and will pose a threat to the Milan defence on the night. He will be backed up by Pedro and Mattia Zaccagni on the flanks.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Strakosha; Hysaj, Felipe, Patric, Marusic; Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi, Alberto; Pedro, Zaccagni, Immobile
Key Stats
- Milan and Lazio have faced off 184 times against each other in all competitions. Milan have won 81 games while Lazio came out on top 39 times.
- Milan and Lazio have faced off 20 times in the Coppa Italia, with the former coming out on top nine times and the latter eight times.
- The last time the two sides faced off in the Coppa Italia quarter-final in 2015, Lazio came out on top courtesy of a Lucas Biglia penalty.
- Ciro Immobile is Lazio’s top scorer with 21 goals in all competitions. None of the Milan players have scored double figures this campaign, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic their top scorer on eight goals.
- Sixteen players have found the back of the net for Milan this season compared to twelve for Lazio.
Player to Watch
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
In a season where Lazio have been inconsistent, the Serbian international has stood out as a shining beacon of light. With eight goals and eight assists in 30 appearances this season, Milinkovic-Savic could be the pivotal player for the visitors on the field.
The 26-year-old is an overwhelming force on the right when in good flow and could cause Theo Hernandez problems on the night. This could put more pressure on Rafael Leao to track back and support his left-back. The approach could work in Lazio’s favour, opening up space on their right flank for Pedro to run into.
Prediction
AC Milan 2-1 Lazio
The teams are more or less evenly balanced on paper, but the home side are going into the game with good morale, which could make all the difference on the night. In Leao and Giroud, they have two clinical players who do not need many opportunities to make a difference. Milan defeated Lazio 2-0 earlier in the season, and given that they are currently oozing with confidence, Pioli’s side should have it in them to come out triumphant.
