Lazio vs AC Milan – Serie A – Preview

Posted on November 1, 2015 by Sreya

Lazio, the only Serie A side with a perfect home record, will host AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico, Rome on Sunday evening. While Lazio sit on sixth position in the league standings with eighteen points, AC Milan are two points behind and are in eighth position. Two defeats in the last three matches have put a dampener on Lazio’s brilliant start to the season. AC Milan, on the other hand, have bounced back from a string of unconvincing performances with consecutive wins against Sassuolo and Chievo.

Team News

Stefan de Vrij, Keita and Marco Parolo are confirmed absentees for Lazio through injuries. Wesley Hoedt is the favourite to start in defence ahead of Mauricio but the Dutch centre-back must pass a fitness test ahead of the match. Senad Lulic has been classified as a doubt as well. Jeremy Menez and Mario Balotelli are sidelined for AC Milan.

Lazio Possible Starting Lineup: Federico Marchetti, Dusan Basta, Santiago Gentiletti, Wesley Hoedt, Stefan Radu, Lucas Biglia, Danilo Cataldi, Antonio Candreva, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Felipe Anderson, Alessandro Matri.

AC Milan Possible Starting Lineup: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ignazio Abate, Alessio Romagnoli, Alex, Luca Antonelli, Juraj Kucka, Riccardo Montolivo, Andrea Bertolacci, Alessio Cerci, Carlos Bacca, Giacomo Bonaventura.

Thoughts From Both Camps

“It’s clear that we have to do better away from home. We need to focus on the good things we have done and try to grow on the other aspects which we are struggling with. We should have won at Atalanta considering the chances we had and I expect a reaction from my players against Milan.”

– Stefano Pioli, Lazio.

“It’s important that we pick up a win away from home. We’re in good form, we’re playing well and we’re showing that we’re a strong side. Lazio have also done well and we will have to take them on with the right approach.”

– Andrea Bertolacci, AC Milan.

Contributor’s Pick

Lazio have not only won all five of their home matches in the Serie A this season, but have also scored a minimum of two goals, keeping a clean sheet in four of them. According to Head-2-Head statistics, Lazio are also undefeated against AC Milan in the last five home matches in all competitions.

A win on Sunday would be a big boost in confidence for Lazio ahead of next Thursday’s Europa League clash in Norway against Rosenborg. For a Milan side which has not won at the Olimpico since 2009, it would be an uphill task. Lazio are the favourites, with a 2-1 scoreline being the most probable one.