A big win in the derby last weekend means letdown watch this weekend. Thankfully there isn’t a minnow on deck since Milan can’t seem to beat them. Instead it’s Lazio coming to town, currently sitting 8th but who have been gradually working their way back up the table after a slow start to the season. Like all Serie A games, Milan is going to need to be ready.
MATCHDAY:
LAST FIVE
MILAN: DWDDW
LAZIO: WDWLW
FORMATIONS
MILAN (3-5-2): Maignan (C); Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlović; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modrić, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Nkunku, Leão
LAZIO (4-3-3): Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Guendouzi, Vecino, Basic; Isaksen, Dia, Zaccagni (C)
TIME/LOCATION
TIME: 2:45pm EST/6:45pm GMT
PLACE: San Siro, Milano
WHERE TO WATCH:
***New season, so tell me if this needs to be updated***
Paramount+ and FuboTV here in the US of Aye (Spanish broadcast on Fox Deportes in the US); FuboTV and TLN for Canada; TNT in the UK (maybe?); ESPN for Mexico; DAZN for Germany, Austria, Switzerland; a website called GXR for our friends in India; and illegal streams that support dictators and oligarchs everywhere.
*Let us know if this needs updating or if you have additional broadcasters to add*
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
The big story heading into this game was the health of Pulisic, who seems to be suffering from fatigue but there are concerns throughout Milanello that playing him could risk injury. So while he’s wanting to play, resting him seems to have won out. Figuring out who to play up top next to Leão is therefore the biggest question mark tactically, as Giménez is still out (might be back next week but for sure the week after baring a setback), which leaves only Nkunku and Rueben Loftus-Cheek. With the starting lineup released, Nkunku wins out.
So what does this mean tactically? Both guys would be about as effective if Milan sits back and counters, with RLC a little bit better on the defensive side considering his size and theoretical ability to win balls but Nkunku has a little more speed and theoretically better finishing. By starting Nkunku, it seems like Allegri isn’t going to purely sit back and counter as Nkunku, yes not a #9, still has better instincts (that of a forward/striker) and will likely move around the box better than RLC. Thankfully Lazio is unlikely to sit back as Maurizio Sarri is attack-minded and Milan shouldn’t see much of a parked bus in the final third.
As for Lazio, as I mentioned in the beginning of the post, have been playing better of late, although the start of season was pretty dreadful so almost anything would look good in comparison. Lazio started the season by losing 3 of their first 4 games and winning just 2 of their first 7 games overall. They’ve won 3 of their last 5 while losing only 1 game, so Milan is catching them in about as good a form as they’ve been in all season.
Lastly, in a somewhat odd trend, Lazio haven’t won back to back games all season (actually going back to February of last season for the full streak), and have alternated wins and dropped points in their last 5 games. What did they do in their last game you ask? They won, beating Lecce 2-0…
PREDICTION TIME:
I think Milan can get a goal or two, what worries me is them not being completely focused and conceding. So I’m still thinking something like a 2-1 win but a draw wouldn’t totally surprise me either (the letdown concern). Either way, with Roma and Napoli playing tomorrow and one or both of them dropping points, a win would be nice to add a little pressure for both teams.
Let’s hope Allegri has them ready.
Forza Milan
gillis