10 September 2021, 17:34 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The Italian Serie A TIM fixture, AC Milan vs. S.S. Lazio, kicks off at 17:00 (GMT+1) on Sunday, September 12 at the San Siro
Preview Milan Serie A, Sep 12, 2021
Preview It was raining goals at the San Siro on Match Day 2 as AC Milan brushed Cagliari aside in a one-sided affair which ended in a 4-1 win for I Rossoneri. The home side had lost only three of their last 39 home matches against the opposition ahead of that Matchday 2 fixture. Milan started on the front foot, with Rafael Leão getting the first big chance of the game. Minutes later, Milan broke the deadlock through an exquisite free-kick from Tonali (12'). But Cagliari soon levelled through Alessandro Deiola (15'). Two minutes later, Rafael Leão (17') restored the lead for Milan. Olivier Giroud (24' & 43' P.) picked up his debut goal for the club before converting from the penalty spot for the brace. The impressive win leaves Milan with 6 points and in 4th place ahead of this fixture against Lazio. Following back-to-back victories, Pioli will be on the hunt for another on Matchday 3. A 4—2—3—1 formation could be seen once again but with Ante Rebic deployed in the center-forward position following Olivier Giroud's positive coronavirus test. Zlatan Ibrahimović rejoined the squad and will be available on Sunday. He is expected to make an off-the-bench appearance as he works towards full fitness ahead of AC Milan's UEFA Champions League opener against Liverpool on Wednesday. An unsettled Frank Kessie could be available for Pioli, but an in-form Tonali is expected to get the nod ahead of the Ivorian. Kessie remains locked in a contract-extension dispute with the club, suggesting the Ivorian could depart as a free agent at the end of the season.
Preview Lazio Serie A, Sep 12, 2021
Preview The game between Lazio and Spezia ended up as a mismatch after the 6-1 thrashing of the latter at the Stadio Olimpico. Spezia's Kelvin Amian Adou (R. 54') was given the marching orders in the 54th minute after wrestling a goal-bound Felipe Anderson to the ground, leaving Lazio with the numerical advantage for a major portion of the second half. Before the red, Ciro Immobile (5', 15' & 45') had equalized Daniele Verde's 4th-minute goal before bagging the hattrick forty minutes later. The massive win leaves Lazio at the very top of the Serie A table with six points, and a G.D. of +7 after back-to-back victories. Maurizio Sarri expects the group to put up another convincing performance on Sunday when they face AC Milan at the San Siro. The 62-year-old could line up the 4—3—3 formation against Milan, with the attacking trio of Felipe Anderson, Ciro Immobile, and Pedro. Sarri will be without Bobby Adekanye, who is currently sidelined with a knee injury, while defender Manuel Lazzari is expected to make his comeback following a calf injury.