Anyone who has been a fan of Serie A for some time will certainly be aware of AC Milan's struggles.
It must seem like ages ago that the Rossoneri last tasted success in Europe back in 2007 and then in the league in 2011 during Massimiliano Allegri's first year in Italy's fashion capital. Since then, things have simply gone from bad to worse. Three managers over the course of just a couple of seasons have not seen things improve. After Allegri's sacking, in came Clarence Seedorf, and things seemed to improve briefly before things went downhill. An 8th-placed finish meant no European football for the Diavolo and out went the Dutch icon in favor of his teammate and another icon in his own right, Filippo Inzaghi.
The former striker started off well at the helm of the club that he enjoyed success both at domestic and continental levels with. However, 2015 has not been so kind for the man nicknamed "Super Pippo" by calcio followers and following last weekend's loss to Lazio, the word around is that his job is hanging by a very slim thread. The club's owner, Silvio Berlusconi, has been shown not to have patience with his managers as of late and the general feeling is that should he lose against the Biancocelesti this evening, a new face may be making his appearance on the tactician's bench pretty soon.
Leading goalscorer Jeremy Menez did not do much to quell the speculation that his new boss could be seeking a new job, stating, "Tomorrow we can’t afford any mistakes, we have to take the field like lions because we can’t make any mistakes. [But, we as players] are are always with Inzaghi."
Philippe Mexes, who in yet another moment of madness that is not unfamiliar to followers of Italian football, saw red in the 3-1 reversal in Rome and apparently, despite not being ineligible for the Coppa Italia time, will take no part in the re-match with the capital club. However, Keisuke Honda is back from international duty with Japan and Nigel De Jong may possibly return after recovering from injury, but Stephan El Shaarawy's own injury woes have yet to have fully disappeared as il Faraone has now been apparently diagnosed again with a fractured foot.
For Lazio, who recovered after going down following Menez's early goal, this will represent a great opportunity for Stefano Pioli's side to heap more misery on their struggling opponents. The capital club have enjoyed one of their best seasons to date and are certainly going to be doing all they can to again get past their opponents for the second time in just a few days.
Veteran striker Miroslav Klose was in great form for his side as he netted one and assisted another in Lazio's great fight-back this weekend and will definitely hope to continue in the same vein of form against a team that are surely aware of the class of Germany's all-time top scorer.
At the end of this game, not only will there be a winner and a loser, but also possibly that one coach could be seeking a new job. Milan fans will certainly hope that it's not their team staring down the barrel of another defeat, but Lazio supporters will obviously seek to see their team keep on continuing in the same excellent form they have shown so far this year.
Milan vs Lazio team sheets
Milan's Starting XI: Abbiati; Abate, Alex, Rami, Albertazzi; Poli, Montolivo, Muntari; Cerci, Pazzini, Menez.
Lazio's Starting XI: Berisha; Konko, Cana, Mauricio, Radu; Onazi, Biglia, Parolo; Cataldi; Keita, Klose.
Milan's bench: Diego Lopez, Gori, Zaccardo, Calabria, De Santis, Armero, Essien, Van Ginkel, Suso, Honda, Mastour.
Lazio's bench: Marchetti, Strakosha, Basta, Novaretti, Peirerinha, Prce, Ledesma, Mauri, Gonzalez, Ederson, Candreva, Palombi.
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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