Made it complicated

Simon Basten

Oct 19, 2022

4 min read

Season 2012-13

Game 8, Serie A

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Milan 3-2

Lazio’s magnificent first hour was enough to withstand a late Milan fightback at the Olimpico

The Biancocelesti were doing rather well. They were third with Inter, four points behind leaders Juventus and Napoli.

The match

Lazio produced one of their most impressive performances of the early 2012-13 season to beat Milan 3-2 at the Stadio Olimpico on October 20, 2012.

For an hour, Vladimir Petkovic’s side were outstanding. Hernanes, Antonio Candreva and Miroslav Klose put Lazio three goals ahead, with Milan struggling to cope with the home side’s movement, intensity and attacking quality.

The visitors eventually found a response through Nigel de Jong and Stephan El Shaarawy, but Lazio held on to claim a deserved victory and move to within four points of leaders Juventus.

There was an unexpected change before kick-off. Federico Marchetti was forced to withdraw after suffering a thigh problem during the warm-up, leaving Albano Bizzarri to take his place in goal.

Otherwise, Petkovic fielded the side that had established itself near the top of the table: Bizzarri behind Abdoulay Konko, Giuseppe Biava, André Dias and Senad Lulic, with Cristian Ledesma anchoring a midfield containing Candreva, Alvaro Gonzalez, Hernanes and Stefano Mauri. Klose was the lone striker.

Milan initially looked comfortable enough. Massimiliano Allegri's team enjoyed possession during the opening stages and Lazio were forced to remain disciplined without the ball. But as the game progressed, the home side began to impose themselves. Their midfield had greater balance and energy, while Hernanes, Mauri and Candreva increasingly found space between the Milan midfield and defence.

The breakthrough came after 25 minutes.

Hernanes collected the ball outside the penalty area and unleashed a left-footed shot towards the far corner. Daniele Bonera got a touch to the effort, but the deflection only made it more difficult for Marco Amelia, who could do nothing as the ball changed direction and flew into the net.

The goal gave Lazio confidence, but Milan almost responded immediately. El Shaarawy broke into the area and appeared to have beaten Bizzarri with a low left-footed shot. Dias, however, produced a magnificent intervention on the goal line to keep Lazio ahead. The Brazilian defender celebrated the clearance almost like a goal of his own.

It proved to be an important moment.

Lazio were becoming increasingly dangerous and, shortly before half-time, doubled their advantage in spectacular fashion. Candreva won possession, carried the ball forward and, from around 30 metres, unleashed a fierce right-footed drive. Amelia could only watch as the shot flew into the corner.

It was 2-0 and Lazio had been rewarded for an increasingly authoritative first-half performance.

Milan made a change at half-time, replacing Kevin-Prince Boateng with Urby Emanuelson and switching to a 4-4-2. But the change had barely had time to settle before Lazio struck again.

Four minutes into the second half, Candreva delivered from the right and found Klose inside the penalty area. The German striker had remarkably been left unmarked and made no mistake, meeting the cross with his right foot and beating Amelia for Lazio's third goal.

At 3-0, the match appeared to be over.

Lazio were playing with confidence and Milan looked completely disjointed. The visitors had struggled to create chances and, for long periods, Petkovic's side appeared capable of adding a fourth. Hernanes came close when a powerful effort was parried by Amelia, while Gonzalez was unable to turn the rebound towards goal.

But Milan finally began to respond.

Allegri introduced Alexandre Pato and pushed his side forward. The pressure eventually produced a goal in the 61st minute. Emanuelson's dangerous free-kick was delivered into the penalty area and Nigel De Jong arrived to turn the ball into the net.

The goal changed the mood of the game.

Milan suddenly looked far more aggressive, while Lazio began to retreat. Petkovic made his first substitution by replacing Mauri with Luis Pedro Cavanda, and later brought on Lorik Cana for Alvaro Gonzalez as Lazio attempted to protect their advantage.

Then, with eleven minutes remaining, Milan reduced the deficit again.

Pato supplied El Shaarawy, who cut inside from the right before firing a right-footed shot towards goal. Bizzarri was unable to keep it out and suddenly the score was 3-2.

What had looked like a comfortable Lazio victory was now anything but.

Milan sensed that an extraordinary comeback was possible and pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Lazio, who had controlled almost everything for the first hour, were now forced to defend much deeper. The Rossoneri continued to attack, but their pressure lacked the precision needed to produce a third goal.

Lazio survived the final assault.

Candreva, one of the outstanding players of the evening, was eventually replaced by Cristian Brocchi with seven minutes remaining as Petkovic sought to see out the game. The final whistle finally arrived after four minutes of added time, confirming a 3-2 victory.

The result lifted Lazio to 18 points after eight matches, leaving them third in the Serie A table, just four points behind Juventus. Milan, meanwhile, suffered their fifth defeat in their opening eight league games and were left with only seven points.

The late collapse in intensity ensured that the evening ended with some nervous moments, but it could not disguise the bigger picture.

Lazio had beaten Milan convincingly, moved firmly into the title race and provided another indication that Petkovic's team could compete with the strongest sides in Italy.

Who played for Lazio

Bizzarri, Konko, Biava, Dias, Lulic, Candreva (83' Brocchi), Hernanes, Ledesma, A. Gonzalez (72' Cana), Mauri (58' Cavanda), Klose