Prediction: AC Milan vs Lazio
Verdict: draw
Best rating: 12/5
Bookmaker:
AC Milan are set to host Lazio at the San Siro in a very important Serie A game on Saturday afternoon. Both teams desperately need the points on offer and will do whatever they can to get them.
AC MilanThe Rossoneri enjoyed huge success by reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they will face Inter Milan later this month. Getting there meant beating new Italian champions Napoli in the quarter-finals, and they did it over two legs, just after beating them in Serie A as well.
However, Milan's participation in next season's Champions League is currently in doubt. Unless they beat Inter with whoever wins the other semi-final, Real Madrid or Manchester City, they will have to finish in the top four, and with five games to go they have given up that bracket. elite. For now. Stefano Pioli's men are sixth with 58 points, two less than fourth-placed Inter and on the same tally as fifth-placed Atalanta.
The problem that got Milan to where they are is their inability to find a way back to winning ways, which has plagued their efforts recently. Since beating Napoli in early April, they have won only once, drawing the other four games they have played. Looking at their last six games in all competitions, this includes a 1-0 win over Napoli in the first leg of their Champions League clash, a 1-1 draw at Bologna, a 1-1 draw in the second leg against Naples. , a 2-0 home win over Lecce, a 1-1 draw away to Roma and a 1-1 home draw against relegation-bound Cremonese.
Team NewsPioli will not be able to call on veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as well as midfielder Tomasso Pobega, but the rest of the squad should be at his disposal.
Mike Maignan will be the goalkeeper, with Pierre Kalulu and Fikayo Tomori as centre-backs, flanked by Theo Hernandez on the left and Davide Calabria on the right. Ismael Bennacer and Sandro Tonali are expected to team up in the middle of the park, with the trio of Alexis Saelemaekers, Brahim Diaz and Rafael Leao playing behind striker Olivier Giroud.
LazioThe team that will have been most saddened by Napoli's confirmation as the new Italian champions is Lazio, although they probably didn't expect to pose a serious challenge anyway. Napoli gained a massive advantage over the rest of the league early on in the campaign, and expecting anyone to come close late on was simply unrealistic.
Anyway, Lazio's attention will now turn to securing a place in the remaining three spots leading up to the Champions League. They are still second behind Napoli with 64 points to their name, one more than third-placed Juventus, four more than Inter and six more than Atalanta and Milan. With five rounds remaining, the task is obviously not yet finished, and this trip to Milan will be seen as crucial, a chance to ward off a direct rival in difficulty.
Lazio's European campaign hasn't been as successful as Milan's. They were knocked out of the Europa Conference League by Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in the round of 16, but if they manage to qualify for the Champions League next season, that certainly won't bother them too much.
In the last six matches played, Maurizio Sarri's men have beaten Monza away 0-2, Juventus at home 2-1, Spezia away 0-3, lost 0-1 home to Torino and 3-1 away to Inter, and eventually bounced back with a 2-0 home win over Sassuolo.
Team NewsMidfielder Danilo Cataldi is Sarri's only injury concern, and he's likely to miss this game even though he hasn't been completely ruled out yet.
Ivan Provedel will be in goal, while former Milanese Alessio Romagnoli will team up with Nicolo Casale in the heart of defence. Elseid Hysaj is expected to come in from the side and play on the right defensive flank, with Adam Marusic again moving in on the left. Cataldi's place at the base of midfield will likely be taken by Marcos Antonio, with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto between the boxes. Upstream, Ciro Immobile should be supported by Felipe Anderson and Mattia Zaccagni.
ConclusionIt will be a tough game for both teams, especially Milan who need to win it for it to count, unlike Lazio who would just not lose. And given the Rosseneri's recent struggle to win games, the visitors are likely to finish the competition with a smile.
Verdict: draw
Best rating: 12/5
Bookmaker:
Verdict: draw
Best rating: 12/5
Bookmaker:
AC Milan are set to host Lazio at the San Siro in a very important Serie A game on Saturday afternoon. Both teams desperately need the points on offer and will do whatever they can to get them.
AC MilanThe Rossoneri enjoyed huge success by reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they will face Inter Milan later this month. Getting there meant beating new Italian champions Napoli in the quarter-finals, and they did it over two legs, just after beating them in Serie A as well.
However, Milan's participation in next season's Champions League is currently in doubt. Unless they beat Inter with whoever wins the other semi-final, Real Madrid or Manchester City, they will have to finish in the top four, and with five games to go they have given up that bracket. elite. For now. Stefano Pioli's men are sixth with 58 points, two less than fourth-placed Inter and on the same tally as fifth-placed Atalanta.
The problem that got Milan to where they are is their inability to find a way back to winning ways, which has plagued their efforts recently. Since beating Napoli in early April, they have won only once, drawing the other four games they have played. Looking at their last six games in all competitions, this includes a 1-0 win over Napoli in the first leg of their Champions League clash, a 1-1 draw at Bologna, a 1-1 draw in the second leg against Naples. , a 2-0 home win over Lecce, a 1-1 draw away to Roma and a 1-1 home draw against relegation-bound Cremonese.
Team NewsPioli will not be able to call on veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as well as midfielder Tomasso Pobega, but the rest of the squad should be at his disposal.
Mike Maignan will be the goalkeeper, with Pierre Kalulu and Fikayo Tomori as centre-backs, flanked by Theo Hernandez on the left and Davide Calabria on the right. Ismael Bennacer and Sandro Tonali are expected to team up in the middle of the park, with the trio of Alexis Saelemaekers, Brahim Diaz and Rafael Leao playing behind striker Olivier Giroud.
LazioThe team that will have been most saddened by Napoli's confirmation as the new Italian champions is Lazio, although they probably didn't expect to pose a serious challenge anyway. Napoli gained a massive advantage over the rest of the league early on in the campaign, and expecting anyone to come close late on was simply unrealistic.
Anyway, Lazio's attention will now turn to securing a place in the remaining three spots leading up to the Champions League. They are still second behind Napoli with 64 points to their name, one more than third-placed Juventus, four more than Inter and six more than Atalanta and Milan. With five rounds remaining, the task is obviously not yet finished, and this trip to Milan will be seen as crucial, a chance to ward off a direct rival in difficulty.
Lazio's European campaign hasn't been as successful as Milan's. They were knocked out of the Europa Conference League by Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in the round of 16, but if they manage to qualify for the Champions League next season, that certainly won't bother them too much.
In the last six matches played, Maurizio Sarri's men have beaten Monza away 0-2, Juventus at home 2-1, Spezia away 0-3, lost 0-1 home to Torino and 3-1 away to Inter, and eventually bounced back with a 2-0 home win over Sassuolo.
Team NewsMidfielder Danilo Cataldi is Sarri's only injury concern, and he's likely to miss this game even though he hasn't been completely ruled out yet.
Ivan Provedel will be in goal, while former Milanese Alessio Romagnoli will team up with Nicolo Casale in the heart of defence. Elseid Hysaj is expected to come in from the side and play on the right defensive flank, with Adam Marusic again moving in on the left. Cataldi's place at the base of midfield will likely be taken by Marcos Antonio, with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto between the boxes. Upstream, Ciro Immobile should be supported by Felipe Anderson and Mattia Zaccagni.
ConclusionIt will be a tough game for both teams, especially Milan who need to win it for it to count, unlike Lazio who would just not lose. And given the Rosseneri's recent struggle to win games, the visitors are likely to finish the competition with a smile.
Verdict: draw
Best rating: 12/5
Bookmaker:
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