The second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final is due to be played tonight, as Lazio and AC Milan do battle for the first spot in the season’s Coppa Italia final. The first leg between these two teams finished 0-0 in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, a hard fighting Lazio team somewhat surprising an in-form Milan. However, things are different now and both teams are going through a negative run of form, with reports from the Italian press suggesting that defeat for either coach could see them dismissed from their roles at the end of the season. Milan vs Lazio promises to be an all-time classic cup tie, with more at stake than just a place in the next round and, in this case, a genuine shot at winning the trophy.
Milan vs Lazio – Opposition Preview
Milan have won just one of their last five games; which was the 1-0 win for the Rossoneri against Lazio in the league edition of this fixture. Franck Kessie scored a late penalty to give Milan all three points but, aside from that, Gattuso’s side have been struggling for wins. The club have drawn 1-1 with Udinese and Parma in recent weeks, whilst suffering 2-1 and 1-0 defeats to Juventus and Sampdoria respectively. Milan, however, have not lost in their last five home games against Lazio in all competitions, Lazio only winning once at San Siro since 2003, in a shock 1-0 win in January 2015 in the quarter-finals of that season’s competition.
Milan vs Lazio – Biancocelesti View
D-day is fast approaching for Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi as the Italian looks like he is beginning to lose his grasp on the squad and is in real danger of missing out on European football next season. The race at the top of the table is tight and there is still a chance that the Biancocelesti could fail to qualify for the Europa League through the league and may have to rely on winning the Coppa Italia to attain a place in the competition. It will be difficult, however, with Lazio in as bad a run of form, if not worse than Milan. Lazio suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at home to Chievo Verona who claimed their first away win of the season after a Sergej Milinkovic-Savic red card in the first half cost the Biancocelesti vital ground in the race for Europe.
Milan vs Lazio – Predicted XI’s
Milan: Reina, Musacchio, Caldara, Romagnoli; Calabria, Kessie, Bakayoko, Laxalt; Suso, Piatek, Castillejo
Lazio: Strakosha, Luiz Felipe, Acerbi, Bastos; Lulic, Milinkovic-Savic, Leiva, Alberto, Romulo; Correa, Immobile
Milan vs Lazio – Prediction
Undoubtedly this clash will be a tough one for Lazio. Both teams are in poor form but Milan have greater quality on paper and hold the home advantage against a Lazio that have struggled to defeat the Rossoneri at San Siro. Although a score draw would be enough to put Lazio through on goal difference, after the match against Chievo it could be too much to expect.
Milan 2-1 Lazio
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