AC Milan faces its third consecutive defeat in a horror week: Lazio wins 2-1 at San Siro.
This comes after a loss against Torino and also a disappointing run in the UEFA Champions League competition.
Just like how online sportsbooks for US players pegged Milan as the hot favorite to progress to the last-16 after the home side got off to a dream start on home soil, there were several fans and experts who predicted that the Rossoneri would make a strong reaction against Marco Baroni's team. But, the reality was different as the team of head coach Sergio Conceicao struggled massively and looked careless, especially in the defensive transition.
Milan - Lazio, how was the first half?
Conceiçao makes two changes compared to the match three days ago against Bologna: Gabbia replaces Thiaw in defense next to Pavlovic, while Pulisic sits on the bench in favor of Joao Felix. Baroni sticks with his usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Isaksen, Dia, and Zaccagni behind Tchaouna. The match is played in a cold San Siro atmosphere: the stadium is half-empty, there are boos during the team lineup announcement, and the Curva Sud is absent for the first 15 minutes, only to return with chants urging Cardinale to sell the club. After three minutes, Lazio has a great chance: Gabbia loses track of Dia’s run, and Dia is left alone in front of Maignan, but the Milan goalkeeper brilliantly saves with his foot. Three minutes later, Lazio has another double chance: Jimenez is too soft in marking Tavares, who gets past him, enters the box, and crosses low, with Pavlovic diverting the ball just wide of his own net. On the resulting corner, the ball reaches Isaksen, who misses the target. The Danish Lazio player tries again in the 12th minute, with a left-foot shot from 20 meters that goes just wide. Milan’s first opportunity comes in the 18th minute, with a pass from Leao to Reijnders, whose right-foot shot is intercepted by Provedel after a slight deflection.
Two minutes later, Jimenez makes a solo run, weaving past a couple of defenders and shooting left-footed, but it goes over the bar. In the 28th minute, Lazio takes the lead: Marusic makes a run from the back, and his diagonal shot is weakly saved by Maignan. The ball falls to Zaccagni, who scores. Ten minutes before halftime, Musah makes an error, attempting an unlikely backheel at the edge of the box, only for Lazio's defense to shut it down. Conceiçao is furious and immediately substitutes Musah, bringing on Joao Felix. The former Chelsea player nearly scores the equalizer, but from the edge of the area, he shoots off-balance and wide. In the second minute of injury time, Lazio nearly doubles its lead: Tavares leads a fast break after a corner for conceicao's team, crosses into the box, and the ball is cleared by Milan but falls to Zaccagni, who shoots first time, narrowly missing the post. In the counterattack, Pavlovic shoots from distance, but Provedel easily saves. The first half ends with Milan trailing and overwhelmed by boos from San Siro.
How was the second half of Milan - Lazio?
At halftime, both coaches make changes to their right backs: Walker and Lazzari replace Marusic and Jimenez. Milan immediately tries to attack Lazio's box, but first Walker and then Reijnders are blocked when they attempt shots. In the 5th minute, Gigot has a chance to double Lazio's lead, but his left-foot shot from a great position is too central and is saved by Maignan. In the 7th minute, Joao Felix has a great opportunity, but his right-foot shot misses the target. Three minutes later, Lazio is close to making it 2-0, as Zaccagni curls a shot that narrowly misses Maignan's left post. The match sees frequent counterattacks: Joao Felix crosses low for Pulisic, who strikes poorly and the ball goes over. In the 13th minute, Baroni opts to strengthen the defense, replacing Tchaouna with Vecino and shifting to a 4-3-3 formation, with Dia playing as a central striker. After the hour mark, the team plays a good sequence, with Gabbia crossing for a shot that Provedel saves, and then the defense clears. A few moments later, Leao crosses for Gimenez’s header, which goes wide, as relayed via Milan Press.
When the hosts pressed forward, another negative moment for the team occurs: Pavlovic fouls Isaksen on a counterattack, and Manganiello shows him a red card, clearly judging it a goal-scoring opportunity. Conceiçao immediately brings on Thiaw and Chukwueze for Fofana and Pulisic, setting up a 4-4-1 formation with Felix and Reijnders in midfield and Chukwueze and Leao on the wings. Seven minutes from the end, Conceiçao makes an all-out attacking change, taking off Gabbia for Jovic and switching to an ultra-offensive 3-1-3-2 formation.
This move pays off when Milan equalizes: Leao crosses from the left, and Chukwueze outjumps Tavares at the second post to score with a header that Provedel can't stop. In the first of four minutes of injury time, Lazio gets a free-kick at the edge of the box, with Tavares stepping up to take it. He shoots towards Maignan’s near post, but the French goalkeeper is alert and saves. Both teams are playing a high-risk game, as they both look to win and risk losing. In the 94th minute, Isaksen falls in the box after contact with Maignan, and Manganiello is called to the VAR, awarding Lazio a penalty. Pedro steps up and calmly sends Maignan the wrong way, giving Lazio three crucial points for the Champions League race and condemning Milan to 9th place.
