Milan will be hoping to rectify a disappointing 2-2 draw at SPAL last time out when they travel to second-place Lazio on Saturday night.
The Rossoneri were fortunate to leave SPAL with a point. Having fallen two goals behind after 30 minutes thanks to a scrappy goal and Sergio Floccari’s stunning half-volley from range, Milan clawed their way back against 10 men – Rafael Leao scoring first before an own goal from Francesco Vicari split the points.
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Milan could’ve moved level on points with Napoli with a win, and they’ll be hoping to take at least something from the Lazio game given their injury woes – Lazio will be without strikers Ciro Immobile and Felipe Caicedo due to suspension, while Lucas Leiva, Luiz Felipe, Bobby Adekanye and Senad Lulic will all be absent.
Stefano Pioli was also dealt an injury blow in the last game, with Samu Castillejo limping off with a muscle injury. Leo Duarte and Mateo Musacchio are also expected to miss the trip to Lazio.
The Biancocelesti though have an impeccable record at home – they’ve taken 39 points from 15 games in Serie A at the Stadio Olimpico so far this season. As for Milan, they’ve drawn four of their last five trips to the capital when facing Lazio, and haven’t won there since 2015.
It’ll be a tall order for Milan to conquer a Lazio side who are so potent at home, and free-scoring too – they’ve scored 41 goals in 15 home games in Serie A this season, with only Atalanta having a better record.
Probable line-up:
With crunch games coming up against Juventus and Napoli, Pioli may well look to rotate his squad slightly for the trip to Lazio.
Expect the standard 4-2-3-1 formation with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, and a back-four consisting of Theo Hernandez and Alessio Romagnoli with Simon Kjaer likely to start at centre-back while Andrea Conti could replace Davide Calabria.
Ismael Bennacer and Franck Kessie will likely share the holding midfield roles again, with Lucas Paquera playing as the central attacking midfielder after an impressive showing at SPAL.
Hakan Calhanoglu will no doubt start on the left, and Ante Rebic up-front with Zlatan Ibrahimovic still searching for full fitness. On the right, Pioli could either go with Rafael Leao or Alexis Saelemaekers after the injury to Castillejo.