Milan vs Lazio Match Preview
A depleted AC Milan will strive for glory when they invite Lazio to the San Siro for the Coppa Italia quarter-finals on Thursday.

Milan are the favourites ahead of the Cup clash
AC Milan will be hoping to advance to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia when they battle with the always difficult Lazio at the San Siro stadium on Thursday.
The Rossoneri may come into the clash as the favourites, but they will need to be at their best in order to not receive any unexpected surprises from the visitors.
With just one win from their past five Serie A games, the Romans don't find themselves in ideal conditions to confront such an important encounter, but they do count with a very solid squad that have the capabilities to cause an upset.
Lazio have a favourable history over their rivals in the Coppa Italia, after having beaten Milan in four out of the last five encounters between the sides in the competition.
Milan's last triumph over Lazio in the Coppa Italia was back in the 2001-02 season, with a 5-3 aggregate score in the quarter-finals over two legs.
Both teams reached this instance of the competition in dramatic fashion, as while Milan needed an extra-time winner from Alexandre Pato to overcome Novara last week, one week earlier his fellow Brazilian international, Hernanes, assured Lazio of progression with a stoppage-time winner over Verona.
If recent statistics are any indication of what to expect on Thursday, the game is likely to be very evenly balanced, as the last four meetings between the sides have ended all square. Unlike on those occasions, the Coppa Italia quarter-final must have a winner.
Massimiliano Allegri, the coach of Milan, has been forced to make a number of changes to his side due to injuries. Midfielders Alberto Aquilani, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Gennaro Gattuso will miss the match due to injury, as will striker Pato, who has been ruled out for up to a month.
Due to the absence of Pato, his position will be occupied by 38-year-old veteran striker Filippo Inzaghi, who will partner Robinho in the attack. Allegri has decided to rest leading goal-scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic for precaution.
Like Allegri, Lazio coach Edy Reja will be unable to count with the services of four players, these being Cristian Brocchi, Libor Kozak, Lorik Cana and Stefano Mauri, who are all sidelined due to a variety of different reasons.
Despite this, Reja will field an extremely aggressive side, with Hernanes, Miroslav Klose and Tommaso Rocchi expected to provide the attacking firepower.
Milan vs Lazio Match Report
AC Milan come from behind to defeat a spirited Lazio to set-up a mouthwatering Coppa Italia semi-final showdown with fierce rivals Juventus.

Robinho (left) scored Milan's first goal of the night
Italian champions AC Milan came from behind to defeat Lazio 3-1 at the San Siro stadium on Thursday to advance to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia where they will meet fierce rivals Juventus.
Milan bounced back from an early goal from Djibril Cisse, with first half strikes from Robinho and Clarence Seedorf as well as a late strike from substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Rossoneri came into the clash having lost only one of their last 11 fixtures, but were in for a major shock when French striker Cisse put the visitors ahead in the 6th minute with a sweetly struck volley past Milan goalkeeper Marco Amelia.
But their lead lasted shortly, as ten minutes later Brazilian international Robinho put Milan on level terms with an absolutely spectacular left-footed volley that found itself in the top corner of the Lazio goal.
Three minutes later Stephan El Shaarawy back-heeled a delightful ball into the path of the onrushing Seedorf, who cut into the area and beat Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti with a powerful curled effort.
Lazio had a final opportunity to draw the game level before the interval, when they were awarded an inviting free-kick. But dead-ball specialist Hernanes saw his attempt on goal superbly kept out by a secure Amelia in the Milan goal.
In the second period the pace of the game slowed down a touch, as while Milan seemed content to hold onto the result, Lazio anticipated minor errors in the Milan defence as a means to find an equaliser.
The introduction of Miroslav Klose appeared to boost the Romans, but immediately upon his arrival the prolific German striker missed a glorious opportunity to score when he had the goal at his mercy.
Lazio were made to rue the missed opportunity, when six minutes from full-time Urby Emanuelson sent Ibrahimovic through on goal with a precise pass, and the Swedish scoring-machine rushed into the area and kept his composure to beat Marchetti with a cool finish to send the Rossoneri into the semi-finals of the competition where they will meet rivals Juventus.