Serie A: Milan and Lazio Set to Collide at the San Siro 

AC Milan vs Lazio

The top-four race in Serie A gathers pace on Saturday when Lazio head to the San Siro to take on AC Milan. At the time of writing the Romans have a four-point advantage over their hosts, but that could all change pretty quickly. 

Both teams are in action in midweek and expected to win; AC Milan are at home to 19^th placed Cremonese on Wednesday and priced at 1.28 to win, while Lazio host Sassuolo who are currently in 11^th and I Biancoceleste can be backed at 1.66. But as the battle for Champions League places heats up, neither of these teams have hit top form in recent weeks. Indeed, Lazio suffered a second successive defeat last Saturday while Milan have won just once in four games.

Lazio have been second, in pursuit of runaway leaders Napoli, for much of the campaign and they will be desperate to avoid a late slide down the table, while AC Milan, Champions League semi-finalists this season, will be determined to improve on their current fifth place.

The San Siro will be rocking on Saturday as these two giants collide.      

Talking Points

Milan set to rest players for the big game 

Rossoneri head coach Stefano Pioli will be shuffling his pack this week in the midst of a packed schedule of high-pressure football. Milan drew 1-1 away to top-four challengers Roma last week and, after they play Cremonese and then Lazio, I Rossoneri have a Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan to look forward to.

Defender Fikayo Tomori is suspended and Pierre Kaluhu is set to step in, and Pioli is also likely to rest centre-back Simon Kjaer.  Some of the most welcome Serie A 2023 newsin Milan has been the return of Kjaer, who ruptured his cruciate ligament last year and was out for over six months. He missed 29 games and, at the age of 33, may have been thinking his career at the top was coming to an end. But the great Dane has returned and has been back to his imperious best in the centre of defence in recent weeks.

He was in great form in Milan’s stunning Champions League and Pioli will want Kjaer to face Lazio.  

The other player Milan will be desperate to keep fit is star attacker Rafael Leao, who has scored 12 goals and made seven assists this season but, at 23 years old he can take the workload! 

Milinkovic-Savic is Lazio’s heartbeat 

While the Milan clubs have blown hot and cold this season and Juventus have had a nightmare off the field, I Biancoceleste have ticked along nicely for much of the campaign, though they will be keen to get over the small blip they have just encountered.

Striker Ciro Immobile has led the line well again, though his tally is lower than usual on ten goals, while midfielder Mattia Zaccagni has enjoyed a superb campaign, scoring ten and contributing five assists. But the man who has held the Lazio challenge together more than any other is midfield general Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. He has made eight assists and contributed some vital goals this season, including the opener in a recent victory over Juventus, and his domination of the middle of the park has enabled Lazio’s creative players to thrive while giving protection to his defence.

At 28 years of age the 6ft 4in Serb is in his prime, an imposing figure and the near perfect box-to-box player. Premier League title chasers Arsenal have identified Milinkovic-Savic as a potential summer recruit and will have competition from big spenders Newcastle United, and Lazio head coach Maurizio Sarri knows it will be difficult to keep hold of his midfield general.

That discussion is for another day, albeit pretty soon, but Lazio’s main man will have a big say in their destiny this season, wherever he ends up.     

History

Milan have won 31 of the 70 meetings with Lazio over the past 30 years while I Biancoceleste have won 15 and there have been 24 draws.

I Rossoneri have a point to make though, having been royally thumped 4-0 when the two teams met in Rome in January as both Milinkovic-Savic and Zaccagni were on target.  

But both teams are struggling to maintain the very best form. Sarri’s Lazio met Inter Milan last week and stumbled to a second successive loss; but before that they won four on the bounce. Meanwhile, Milan are hard to beat but have drawn four of their last five.   

Betting Tip

The Serie A 2023 betting odds say this race for Champions League places is going down to the wire and these two teams will be right there to the very last kick. 

AC Milan are odds on at 1.96 to win this clash, with Lazio at SBOTOP odds of 3.30 and the draw at 3.16. It’s going to be very, very tight I suspect.  

 

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