Milan vs Lazio Preview

February 28, 2013 By Gregory Sica

A red-hot Rossoneri will be looking for a victory that would allow them to climb above Lazio into third position of the Serie A standings.

Serie A highflyers AC Milan and Lazio battle in what promises to be an action-packed encounter at the San Siro on Saturday.

The two teams are just separated by one position and two points on the standings, so while Lazio will be looking to maintain third place, a rejuvenated Milan will be desperate to steal it away from them.

Milan have been in sensational form in 2013, both in the Italian First Division and the UEFA Champions League. They are highly-motivated, particularly after having achieved a stunning 2-0 victory over Barcelona at the San Siro. They also came extremely close to beating arch-rivals Inter Milan last weekend, but finally had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Milan, who have won their last six games at the San Siro, understand that Saturday's fixture with Lazio is the ideal opportunity to move closer towards a place in Europe next season, and because of this will be after the three points at all costs.

Massimiliano Allegri will field an extremely-strong Milan side for the clash, which includes Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy, two of Italy's most highly-rated players, in the attack.

However, Daniele Bonera and long-term absentee Nigel de Jong will miss the game through injury, as will the suspended Philippe Mexes.

Rivals Lazio have beaten Milan the last two times the sides met, but the fact that Miroslav Klose, Cristian Brocchi, Abdoulay Konko, Marius Stankevicius and Stefano Mauri will be missing on Saturday plays against their chances of claiming another victory.

With Klose, Lazio's leading scorer, out injured, Sergio Floccari will be called upon for the side's goals, as he will take the field as their lone striker.

The Biancocelesti have been rather inconsistent of late with one win, two draws and three losses from their last five Serie A games, but will be hoping to return to the right track on their visit to Italy's business, fashion and design capital.