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Italian
Serie A: AC Milan vs Lazio
Kickoff
Time: 2023-10-01 00:00 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/ALBERTO
LINGRIA
In
the midweek’s Serie A match, AC Milan made use of six new players in their
starting line-up. With successful rotation, they secured a 3-1 victory over
Cagliari. After six rounds, AC Milan have accumulated 15 points and is emerging
as a strong contender for the league championship. In the midweek match, key
players such as Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud were given a rest and are
expected to return to the starting line-up. Compared to last season, American
captain Christian Pulisic has emerged as a new standout player on the offensive
end for AC Milan. He possesses the versatility to play in various positions in
the forward line, and Coach Stefano Pioli grants him the freedom to operate as
a free agent in the attacking line. When deployed on the right wing, Pulisic
acts as an attacking midfielder, using his passing abilities to create scoring
opportunities for his teammates. On the left wing, he utilises his right foot
to make breakthroughs and create chances. So far this season, Pulisic has
achieved an impressive 87% passing success rate, which ranks him second among
wingers in the league.
Source:REUTERS/ALBERTO
LINGRIA
Last
season, Lazio finished as the runner-up in the league. However, their
performance in the new season has been disappointing, suffering defeats to
relegation-threatened teams like Lecce and Genoa in the early stages. The
departure of core midfielder Milinkovic Savic has been attributed as a factor
for their struggles. Their midfield is undergoing reorganisation, but the
progress has been unsatisfactory. In the past three league matches, Lazio have
experimented with three different midfield line-ups, all of which have exposed
their lack of control. This has resulted in a gap between the defence and
midfield, leaving their defence vulnerable to the opposition’s attacks.
Particularly, the right wing has often been exploited as a weak point by
opponents. Statistical analysis shows that Lazio are relatively strong in
attacking but lacks defensive solidity, ranking 12th in clearances per game and
16th in steals per game in the league. In their upcoming match against AC
Milan, known for their proficiency in wing breakthroughs, it is crucial for
Lazio to strengthen their defence on the wings through tactical adjustments.
However, Coach Maurizio Sarri is known for his rigidity and may stick to his
preferred 4-3-3 formation without making significant changes.
Based
on the depth of their line-up, tactical adjustments, and their impressive
performance throughout the season, AC Milan enter this upcoming battle with a
significant advantage over their opponents. With their strong performances and
results, it is reasonable to believe that they have a good chance of securing a
victory.
AC
Milan’s Last 5 Games: WWDLW
23-09-28
Cagliari 1-3 AC Milan
23-09-23
AC Milan 1-0 Verona
23-09-20
AC Milan 0-0 Newcastle United
23-09-16
Inter 5-1 AC Milan
23-09-02
Roma 1-2 AC Milan
Lazio’s
Last 5 Games: WDDLW
23-09-28
Lazio 2-0 Torino
23-09-24
Lazio 1-1 Monza
23-09-20
Lazio 1-1 Atletico Madrid
23-09-16
Juventus 3-1 Lazio
23-09-03
Napoli 1-2 Lazio
Head
To Head Record:
23-05-06
AC Milan 2-0 Lazio
23-01-25
Lazio 4-0 AC Milan
23-04-25
Lazio 1-2 AC Milan
22-02-10
AC Milan 4-0 Lazio
21-09-12
AC Milan 2-0 Lazio
Prediction: AC Milan to win