AC MILAN v LAZIO: OPPONENT REVIEW

A luxury Saturday on Matchday 7 of Serie A: AC Milan take on Lazio at San Siro at 18:00 CEST in what will be the 161st meeting between the two teams in Italy’s top division. The Rossoneri are currently eight points ahead of the Biancocelesti in the standings: il Diavolo are first, level with Inter on 15 points, compared to Lazio’s 7. Careful not to underestimate Sarri’s men, however, who arrive off the back of a strong 2-0 win over Torino after losing their first two matches in the league, since recording two victories and a draw in the following four matches. Lazio’s main objective is without a doubt to make it two victories in a row in the league, something they haven’t managed since the end of last season (three in that case, against Udinese, Cremonese and Empoli). 

On the other hand, AC Milan are on the hunt for their sixth consecutive victory at home - the Rossoneri have only managed this once under Stefano Pioli, between April and September 2022. Focusing on the defences, the Biancocelesti won 2-0 against Torino in the midweek match, but they haven’t recorded two clean sheets in a row since April (when they had a run of six from February). It is difficult to point to a real favourite in big matches like this, but Lazio’s recent away record will not bring hope to the visitors: four defeats in their last seven in Serie A away from home (3W), as many as in their previous 25 (15W, 6D). 

LAZIO ARE CONCEDING TOO MANY AND AREN’T DOING ENOUGH IN ATTACK
Sarri’s Lazio have not started this season in the best of ways. The victory over Torino in the midweek matches has restored some life into the Biancoceleste team who have not still not reached the levels of mental, athletic and technical brilliance of last year. Suffice it to say that Lazio have conceded as many as 90 shots in these first six matches, the fourth worst figure in the league behind just Empoli, Frosinone and Sassuolo - in the 2022/23 Serie A season they averaged 12 shots faced per match (right now they are averaging 15). 

Overall, Lazio seem to find it difficult to push forward quickly towards their front three (only seven vertical attacks so far, only four teams have fewer as of now) as well as problems developing the usual 'Sarrian' game based on overlaps, position fluidity and quick one-twos.  The only data that would satisfy Sarri so far concerns set-pieces, given that the Lazio are one of four teams- with Juventus, Inter and Bologna - not to have conceded goals from set-pieces yet (eight out of eight conceded from open play). AC Milan, however, have already scored four times from set pieces and will be looking to make use of set pieces to drive home a match that is, on paper, very evenly balanced.

IMMOBILE NUMBER ONE DANGER, WATCH OUT FOR LUIS ALBERTO AND ZACCAGNI
Ciro Immobile is undoubtedly the first name on Pioli's list of biggest dangers. Not only because of the number of goals he boasts in Serie A and his attacking leadership for the Biancoceleste but also because of his record against the Diavolo: the 33-year-old striker has netted eight goals in the top flight against the Rossoneri (three of them at the Meazza) and since the first (February 2014) he has scored more than any other Serie A player. Another man to be feared is Luis Alberto. The Spaniard has contributed to six goals against AC Milan in Serie A (three goals and three assists), two of them in the 4-0 win at the Stadio Olimpico on 24 January; against only Bologna and Fiorentina (eight both) does he have more goal contributions in the competition. 

The 31-year-old midfielder is also enjoying a positive start to the season: first of all, he is one of the two (together with Immobile) with more than one goal in the first six matches (two each); one of the two (again with Immobile) with most shots on target (four each) and the first for chances created (13). He has already chalked up two assists if we also count the one (a beauty) to Provedel in the match against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League (fewer only than Felipe Anderson with three). Finally, watch out for a revived Mattia Zaccagni, (first with Luis Alberto for total shots this season for the Biancocelesti - both 12 in all competitions) who found the goal again in the last championship round against Torino. The midfielder has not scored in two Serie A appearances in a row since last January (three, including one against the Rossoneri at the Stadio Olimpico), and AC Milan are an inspiring opponent for him too: one goal and two assists against the Diavolo - he only has a better record against Sassuolo (five goal contributions) in the tournament.

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