LAST FIVE
MILAN (2nd): LLWWD
LAZIO (6th): WWDLL
FORMATIONS
MILAN (4-2-3-1): Tatarusanu; Dest, Tomori, Kalulu, Calabria; Tonali, Bennacer; Leão, Diaz, Messias; Giroud
LAZIO (4-3-3): Provedel; Marusic, Romagnoli, Casale, Lazzari; Alberto, Cataldi, Milinkovic-Savic; Zaccagni, Anderson, Rodriguez
TIME: 2:45pm EST/7:45pm GMT
PLACE: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
WHERE TO WATCH:
Paramount+ and FuboTV here in the US of Aye and Canada, BeIn for our Aussie pals, ESPNPlay for our fellas in T&T, JioTV for our Indian leoni, and illegal streams that support human trafficking everywhere.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
Well, this isn’t a Juventus blog so we didn’t put a piece up discussing Juve’s 15 point deduction in the table. Needless to say based on people here, both the FDL1899 staff and you all, we’re all happy to see them get their comeuppance even if some of us wanted more or thought the amount was just right. It’s important to know they will appeal the decision, probably in April when the findings are released, and UEFA is still reviewing and will likely have a sentenced handed down on them as well from a European play perspective.
My own thoughts on this are if Milan got 2yrs (appealed and had it reduced to 1yr), for overspending and not bringing in enough revenue over a 3yr period (debating the business decision to do this is a different conversation), then Juventus needs to be sanctioned with a 6-8yr banning from European play (with the expectation it’ll get reduced down to 3-5yrs) for cooking the books. This was willful, sustained, and deliberate. I would say UEFA should just sanction and ban them for 4yrs and Juventus could then show class and remorse and take the penalty and begin the important work of making things right and…HAHAHAHAHA! Yeah right. This is Juve merda. UEFA needs to unload on them. Or as Sensei Kreese told Johnny…
Anyway, onto this round’s matchup with Lazio. Here are some things to watch for:
- As of the time of this writing it’s looking like Theo might be out. Not injured but as we’ve all seen he’s looked exhausted
- Leão has 2 goals and 2 assists in his last 3 games vs Lazio (2 league games/1 Coppa)
- Milan will be about as healthy as they’ve been since early October, as we saw Rebic and Origi come back in the last week and Krunic has returned to the group and appears like he might be available off the bench
- Giroud looks tired and if he does indeed start then I would anticipate him being subbed off first, ideally for Rebic
- Brahim had a good couple of games to start 2023 but has been less impactful these last 2. I’d like to see him return to that protagonist we saw before the WC break
- CDK has been quiet these last 2 just when it was looking like he might break out. Can he get going finally? Can he be, as in the spirit of that gold-tie-wearing-bald SOB Galliani: like a January signing for Milan?
- For Lazio, Immobile isn’t quite ready to return but I’m unsure if this is a good or bad thing. He’s been like the only Sarri-led Lazio player to score vs Milan in what has been Milan-dominated series of late
- SMS has created the most big changes in the league this season. What exactly are big chances? Are they really big?…or would she say that they’re a good size?…
- Also on SMS, Kessie absolutely had him in his pocket these last few years but what will Milan do now and how much will SMS control the midfield and hence much of the game? Definitely something to watch for
- It’s Romagnoli’s first game against Milan since being their captain. Won’t be as meaningful as when he returns to the San Siro, but still a big moment nonetheless
Forza Milan