Milan vs Lazio: Post Match Review
After 30 years of Serie A action, Lazio finally defeated Milan at the San Siro. It was also a night to remember for Ciro Immobile who scored his 100th goal in Lazio colors.
Milan vs Lazio: First Half
Lazio started the brighter side. The Biancocelesti carved out the first chance of the game in the fifth minute. Senad Lulic picked up a loose pass and played in Ciro Immobile; the Italian looked for the far post but Gianluigi Donnarumma was equal to it and Milan cleared their lines. Two minutes later, Krzysztof Piatek picked up a poor pass from Thomas Strakosha; the Polish striker unleashed a fierce shot that was well blocked by Francesco Acerbi. In the 16th minute, Milan was awarded a free-kick 30 yards out after Bastos left a boot in on Piatek. Hakan Calhanoglu stepped up to strike the dead ball, his effort was well wide. Twenty-one minutes, it was Milan’s turn again, Samu Castillejo delivering a great ball for Lucas Paqueta who failed to convert a one-on-one with Strakosha. The game then was end-to-end stuff, with both sides playing with a high tempo. In the 22nd-minute Immobile hit the frame of the Milan goal; he was played in down the left-hand side by Luis Alberto and the striker perfectly opened up his body to curl his effort around Gianluigi Donnarumma. However, the ball cannoned back off the bar. Immobile is a striker who is currently in the form of his life: in the 25th minute, Manuel Lazzari played the perfect cross from the right side. Immobile was the only Lazio player in the box, however, it didn’t matter. A well-placed header after some excellent movement left Donnarumma with no chance. 0-1.
Lazio’s lead was a short one. Three minutes after taking the lead, Piatek attempted to get on the end of a Theo Hernandez cross, his effort was diverted past Strakosha by Bastos. The Angolan was not having the best of games. 1-1.
Milan nearly scored directly from a corner on the 39th minute. Calhanoglu’s effort forced Strakosha to make a reflex save. The Milan players protested the effort, however after being checked it was clear the ball did not cross the line. Excellent link up pay in the final third as Lazio finished the half the stronger side, Alberto played in Joaquin Correa who took an age to get his shot away, when he did it was blocked by Alessio Romagnoli.
Milan vs Lazio: Second Half
The Italian picked up in the second half where he left off in the first – Romagnoli managed to get his head onto a corner from Calhanoglu on the 58th minute which looped onto the top of the Lazio goal. Simone Inzaghi left Laziali speechless in the 60th minute, opting to haul off Immobile and Milinkovic-Savic for the likes of Marco Parolo and Felipe Caicedo. Milan was awarded a free-kick centrally in the 65th minute; Calhanoglu opted to drive the ball as hard as he could down the throat of Strakosha who was equal to it. With fifteen minutes left on the clock, Lazzari played Luis Alberto in after good work down the right flank; the Spaniard opted to strike across goal which was saved by Donnarumma. Luis Alberto really should have looked to cut the ball back to either Caicedo or Correa who were in better positions. Luis Alberto was back at it again in the 83rd minute winning the second ball and playing a glorious reverse pass to Correa. The ball meant the Argentinian was one-on-one with Donnarumma and he slammed the ball home giving Lazio the lead. 1-2.
Milan vs Lazio: Man of the Match
Luis Alberto is the catalyst for all things good for Lazio at present. The Spaniard has shown his ability time and time again this season at receiving the ball in tight situations and finding the perfect pass to a teammate. It is no surprise that Alberto picked up yet another assist in Milan; his composure and influence on the game continuing in the Biancocelesti colors with Lazio surely will earn him a recall to the Spain National Team.
This article initially appeared on Golazzo Calcio, Matty Lewis’ blog
