Lazio will certainly be fancying their chances when they take on AC Milan later this evening. The Biancocelesti have been in good form so far this season but a loss to Napoli saw them slip into fifth place, and while they are still in contention for European football, the club's fans will certainly like to see them in the Champions League next season.
In addition, the Stadio Olimpico has been a sort of fortress for Stefano Pioli's men, with only three sides so far being able to depart Rome with all three points in hand: Udinese, Juventus, and most recently, the Partenopei.
Although historically the Rossoneri have done well against their upcoming opponents, with Lazio's last win coming as a 3-0 result in October 2012, Filippo Inzaghi's men have not started 2015 off on the right foot. Not only are they still searching for that first league win, but they are also in eighth place--ironically, the very same place the team was under Clarence Seedorf prior to the retired Dutch international's sacking. Not surprisingly, Inzaghi now has come under pressure especially given that they have just earned one point (a draw with Torino) out of their three games of this year.
The reverse fixture, though, back on the opening day of this season's Serie A ended as a 3-1 win for the Diavolo, with Keisuke Honda, Jeremy Menez, and Sulley Muntari all getting on the score-sheet. Menez, who has been a revelation as he has scored nine league goals so far since moving from PSG this past summer, has not been able to score in his last two matches. As such, his team will be hoping that the Frenchman can rediscover his scoring touch against their opponents who sit five points ahead of them in the table.
Due to the interesting make-up of the Coppa Italia this year, this will be first of two games in which Lazio and Milan will face off in just a span of three days. Certainly, both sides then will seek to win this one as it could definitely set the stage for the next meeting just 72 hours later.
For Lazio, it will be essential as the race for a Champions League spot begins to pick up steam. Meanwhile, for Milan, Inzaghi's position on the tactician's bench, despite Silvio Berlusconi's denials, could really depend on what happens over the subsequent duo of matches.
Lazio vs Milan team sheets
Lazio's lineup: Marchetti; Basta, De Vrij, Cana, Radu; Cataldi, Biglia, Parolo; Candreva, Klose, Mauri.
Milan's lineup: Diego Lopez; Abate, Mexes, Alex, Armero; Poli, Montolivo, Van Ginkel; Bonaventura, Menez, El Shaarawy.
Lazio's subs: Berisha, Strakosha, Cavanda, Konko, Pereirinha, Mauricio, Onazi, Ledesma, Ederson, Gonzalez, Keita, Djordjevic.
Milan's subs: Abbiati, Agazzi, Albertazzi,Zaccardo, De Santis, Calabria, Essien, Muntari, Suso, Cerci, Pazzini.
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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