AC Milan will welcome top-four rivals SS Lazio to San Siro in a pivotal clash in the race for top four.
On Saturday afternoon, defending champions AC Milan will take on SS Lazio in a highly-anticipated match at San Siro. This game is crucial for both teams as it could significantly impact their chances of finishing in the top four of Serie A.
AC Milan, who have already lost their Scudetto to SSC Napoli, are now focused on securing a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League group stages. However, they are currently in sixth place, just two points behind fourth-placed Inter Milan. With only five games left, every point counts for the Rossoneri.
While AC Milan’s chances of going all the way in the Champions League are uncertain, missing out on the top four would undo much of the progress the club has made in recent years.
Lazio, on the other hand, are in second place and have a four-point lead over Inter. However, after suffering a defeat to Inter last weekend, they cannot afford to drop points against AC Milan. Maurizio Sarri’s men need a win to stay clear of the top four battle.
In the reverse fixture, AC Milan were handed a heavy defeat by Lazio. So they are aware that they cannot let their guard down in this match. AC Milan have drawn four of their last five Serie A games, which has resulted in them slipping out of the top four. Lazio, on the other hand, have won seven of their last ten games but were brought back to earth by Inter last weekend.
Both teams will be eager to secure a crucial win in this game, but it remains to be seen who will come out on top. Lazio will be hoping to avoid a repeat of their defeat to Inter last weekend as they return to the San Siro to face a determined AC Milan side. The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
AC Milan
A busy day 4 mathematicians 🔢
Seedorf, Zambrotta, Pato, Kaká: qual è il gol più bello? 😍
#MilanLazio #SempreMilan
Brought to you @StarCasinoSport pic.twitter.com/pqTv2RmWAh— AC Milan (@acmilan) May 4, 2023
AC Milan’s recent draw against Cremonese saw them stumble in their Serie A campaign. Despite a late equalizer from Junior Messias, Stefano Pioli’s decision to rest some of his key players backfired, as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home. However, the Rossoneri boss is unlikely to make the same mistake again, especially when they face a team of Lazio’s caliber.
The upcoming game is critical for Milan’s chances of securing a place in the top four of the Serie A table. With that in mind, Pioli is expected to field his best players for the match. Apart from the absence of Tommaso Pobega and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pioli has a fully-fit squad to choose from, with Fikayo Tomori’s return from suspension being a major boost.
Pioli is expected to employ a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Mike Maignan manning the last line of defence. The backline will comprise Davide Calabria, Fikayo Tomori, Pierre Kalulu and Theo Hernandez. In midfield, Ismael Bennacer and Sandro Tonali will pair up in the double pivot, providing a sturdy foundation for the attacking players.
The creative role of the number 10 is likely to be played by Brahim Diaz, who will have the support of the energetic and speedy wingers, Alexis Saelemaekers and Rafael Leao. Oliver Giroud, Milan’s prolific striker, is expected to replace Divock Origi in the starting XI. With a team that strong, Milan will be determined to claim victory and take a significant step towards securing their place in the top four.
It is a high-stakes match, and Milan’s players will be keen to give it their all on the pitch. A win would provide a huge morale boost for the team, and would put them in a much stronger position to finish the season on a high note.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Kalulu, Hernandez; Bennacer, Tonali; Saelemaekers, Diaz, Leao; Giroud
SS Lazio
Lazio have been on a mission to restore their pride and have emerged as one of Italy’s top teams under the guidance of their savvy coach, Maurizio Sarri. While their recent loss to Inter Milan was a tough pill to swallow, they have a chance for redemption when they face off against the Rossoneri in the same arena.
What’s more, Lazio boast the second most formidable defence in Italy’s top flight this season, conceding just three goals in their last six away games. Interestingly, all three of those goals came at the hands of Inter Milan. So they’ll be looking to tighten things up in their upcoming clash.
With a solid squad to choose from, Sarri is likely to stick with his tried-and-true 4-3-3 system. Ivan Provedel will be in goal, backed up by a back four consisting of Adam Marusic, Nicolo Casale, Alessio Romagnoli, and Elseid Hysaj. They will need to stay sharp for the full 90 minutes, though, especially after their late-game collapse against Inter.
🇮🇹 @SerieA
La designazione arbitrale di #MilanLazio:
👮♂️ Antonio Rapuano
🚩 Meli – Alassio
4️⃣ Orsato
👨💻 Mazzoleni
🅰️ Manganiello pic.twitter.com/mvWmBOAbuw— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) May 4, 2023
In central midfield, Marcos Antonio is expected to take the place of the injured Daniele Cataldi, with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto providing support on either side. These two will be crucial in getting the ball up to Lazio’s front three.
Speaking of which, Lazio’s veteran striker Ciro Immobile will be leading the charge, flanked by Felipe Anderson and Mattia Zaccagni. This trio is a force to be reckoned with, and if they can catch Milan’s defence off-guard, they’re sure to make some serious noise.
Overall, Lazio will be looking to hold onto their second-place standing and avoid getting drawn into the fight for the top four. With Juventus breathing down their neck, they cannot afford to drop any points or not play to their strengths.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Provedel; Marusic, Casale, Romagnoli, Hysaj; Milinkovic-Savic, Antonio, Alberto; Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni
Key Stats
- AC Milan are unbeaten in their last eight games at San Siro across all competitions.
- Since January, Lazio have taken won more points in Serie A than any other team.
- Lazio have conceded just three goals in their last six away games in Serie A, all of which came in last Sunday’s loss to Inter Milan.
- Lazio have conceded 24 goals in Serie A this season, a tally that is second only to Napoli.
- Luis Alberto has scored three goals against AC Milan in Serie A. Only against Fiorentina (four) has he scored more goals in Serie A. After his goal in the first meeting this season against the Rossoneri, the midfielder could score in both of his games in a season against a single opponent for the first time in the top flight.
Player to Watch
Oliver Giroud
When it comes to finding the back of the net, AC Milan have been struggling to keep up with their rivals in recent times. The answer to their goal-scoring woes might just lie in the experienced feet of Olivier Giroud.
The French veteran is the go-to man for finding the back of the net in crucial moments. Ond with his sights set on Lazio’s defense, he’s sure to relish the challenge. Forget Divock Origi, Giroud is the real deal when it comes to being a target man that can supply the goods on the night.
With his natural ability to hold up the ball, Giroud is the perfect player to bring the likes of Rafael Leao, Diaz, and Alexis Saelemaekers into the game, while also being a threat on set-pieces. As long as the Frenchman is on his game, Milan will have more than a fighting chance of breaching Lazio’s rearguard.
Prediction
AC Milan 1-1 SS Lazio
AC Milan are hungry for a victory and will stop at nothing to secure all three points. However, their opponents, Lazio, are no pushovers and will be determined to avoid a repeat of their heartbreaking loss to Inter. So, expect to witness a fierce game where both sides will be cautious yet aggressive in their pursuit of victory. The game is likely to be hard fought with both teams sharing the spoils.
