2022-23 season
Game 34
May 6 2023
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
Milan Lazio 2-0
Milan comfortably beat Lazio on a day where the Biancocelesti were completely absent
The team
Maurizio Sarri will not be able to play neither Danilo Cataldi nor Matias Vecino, both injured. The Lazio manager has always said that Marcos Antonio cannot play together with Luis Alberto and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic because the midfield would be too “light”. But this is exactly what he does for the game against Milan, hence taking a gamble.
Milan may be thinking about the Champions League semi-final but today is a must win for them if they want to qualify for next years top tier European competition.
The match
One can immediately see that Milan is on another planet compared to Lazio. Physically and psychologically, the Rossoneri are by far superior to the Biancocelesti who are slow and suffer the Milan pressing.
After ten minutes Rafael Leo has to give up and is replaced by Alexis Saelemaekers.
In the 17th minute Theo Hernandez crosses into the box, Olivier Giroud attempts a volley which goes high. Milan score immediately after. Ivan Provedel passes to Nicolò Casale, ball to Marcos Antonio pressed by Ismael Bennacer who steals possession. One-two with Giroud, 1-0 for Milan.
This goal should have been disallowed since Giroud had a foot on the line of the penalty box before Lazio took the goal kick. VAR failed to notice.
The light in the Lazio attack, very dim right from the start, fails to show any spark and in the 29th minute Milan score their second. Mike Maignan to Theo Hernandez just outside the Milan box, long run towards the Lazio area, once he is just outside he shoots, the ball is deflected by Alessio Romagnoli and goes over Provedel.
Milan Lazio 2-0, game over.
By game over, we really mean game over. De facto nothing else happens. Milan is content with the result, Lazio is completely absent. There are just two things worth noting. A header by Malick Thiaw, who substituted Simon Kjaer in the interval, off a corner just a little high in the 65th minute and Lazio’s sole goal opportunity in the 95th minute when Toma Basic cannot make a decent contact off a Pedro assist.
This was the worst league game Lazio has played this year. Milinkovic-Savic should not have started, he had a bad day and created a disequilibrium in Lazio’s midfield. Luis Alberto woke up when it was too late. Ciro Immobile has a long way to go to get back into a decent form. The only player, from Lazio’s side, who tried to do something was Felipe Anderson, but it was like preaching in a desert.
Who played for Milan
Maignan, Calabria (46` Kalulu), Tomori, Kjaer (46` Thiaw), Theo Hernandez (80` Ballo Tourè), Krunic, Tonali, Messias, Bennacer, Leao (11` Saelemaekers); Giroud (68` Rebic).
Substitutes: Tatarusanu, Mirante, , Adli, Brahim Diaz, Bakayoko, Origi, Pobega, Vranckx, Gabbia, De Ketelaere.
Manager: Pioli.
Who played for Lazio
Provedel, Marusic (56` Lazzari), Casale, Romagnoli, Hysaj (68` Pellegrini), Milinkovic (68` Basic), Marcos Antonio, Luis Alberto, Felipe Anderson, Immobile (81` Cancellieri), Zaccagni (56` Pedro).
Substitutes: Maximiano, Adamonis, Gila, Patric, Radu, Fares, Bertini, Romero.
Manager: Sarri
Referee: Rapuano
Goals: 17’ Bennacer, 29’ Theo Hernandez
Bookings: Romagnoli, Marusic, Calabria, Casale, Pellegrini, Thiaw
Comments