Game 19, Serie A
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Milan 4-0
An impressive Lazio demolish Milan 4-0 to keep hopes of Champions League alive
The teams
Maurizio Sarri decided to put Adam Marusic on the right in order to stop Rafael Leao. The weekend results had given Lazio a great chance to get back into the Champions League zone. Milan, who had not been playing very well lately and had also lost the Supercoppa 3-0 the previous week in the derby against Inter, left Theo Hernandez at home and Stefano Pioli put Sergiño Dest in his place.
The match
Lazio started the game in magnificent style. In the 5th minute Felipe Anderson passed to Mattia Zaccagni on the left, ball into the middle of the box, Luis Alberto let it pass under his legs, Felipe Anderson also let it go, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic transformed himself into Immobile and it was 1-0 for Lazio.
At this point, a long chess game between the two teams commenced. Everybody was moving according to the script prepared by their managers, Lazio were more cautious since they were leading, Milan possibly lacked aggressiveness. In the 19th minute Sandro Tonali from a central position outside the box shot, the ball was deflected but Ivan Provedel had no problems in making the save.
In the 22nd minute Pioli was forced to substitute Fikayo Tomori with Simon Kjaer due to injury.
In the 30th minute Milinkovic-Savic near the corner kick sent in a perfect ball for Zaccagni whose volley was deflected off a Milan defender into corner. Six minutes later Pedro’s acceleration cut through the Milan defence but his pass to Felipe Anderson was just a fraction too late and the Brazilian was anticipated by Dest.
In the 38th minute Pedro passed a wonderful ball on the right to Marusic who shot, deflection by Ciprian Tatarusanu onto the far post but Zaccagni was there for the tap in. 2-0 for Lazio.
A spectacular first half by the Biancocelesti. For the third consecutive game, Milan were trailing 2-0 at the interval.
The Rossoneri were a lot more aggressive in the second half and Lazio were in slight difficulty. In the 50th minute a great free kick by Ismael Bennacer, slightly deflected off the wall, was only just wide. Pioli sent in three players: Alexis Saelemekers, Charles De Ketelaere and Divock Origi replacing Junior Messias, Brahim Diaz and Olivier Giroud.
In the 62nd minute Milan had their best chance. De Ketelaere lobbed a ball into the box for Leao who, challenged by Elseid Hysaj, shot over the crossbar.
In the 67th minute Lazio made it three. Hysaj sent a long ball on the left to Felipe Anderson who raced down the pitch and got to it first. He was isolated against the Milan defence so he waited for Pedro to get into the middle of the box. When the Spaniard arrived, ball to him. As Pedro was about to shoot, he was fouled by Pierre Kalulu. The ref decided it was a penalty. Luis Alberto took the spot kick and it was 3-0 for Lazio.
Lazio were in complete control and playing beautifully and soon it was 4-0. Zaccagni on the left just outside the box sent the ball in to Luis Alberto who, like the magician he is, invented a fantastic pass and put Felipe Anderson in front of Tatarusanu. No mistake and game over.
All that followed were the remaining substitutions. In the 78th minute in came Luka Romero and Manuel Lazzari for Pedro and Marusic for Lazio and Ante Rebic for Leo for Milan. In the 83rd minute Toma Basic replaced Milinkovic-Savic and four minutes later Marcos Antonio came on for Danilo Cataldi.
Superb Lazio, fantastic Luis Alberto.
Who played for Lazio
Provedel, Marusic (79' Lazzari), Casale, Romagnoli, Hysaj, Milinkovic-Savic (83' Basic), Cataldi (86' Marcos Antonio), Luis Alberto, Pedro (78' Romero), Felipe Anderson, Zaccagni
Manager: Sarri
Who played for Milan
Tatarusanu, Calabria, Kalulu, Tomori (24' Kjaer), Dest, Bennacer, Tonali, Messias (58' Saelemaekers), Diaz (58' De Ketelaere), Leao (79' Leao), Giroud (59' Origi)
Substitutes: Mirante, Vasquez, Adli, Thiaw, Pobega, Krunic, Vranckx, Gabbia, Bozzolan
Manager: Pioli
Referee: Di Bello
Goals: 5’ Milinkovic-Savic, 38’ Zaccagni, 67’ Luis Alberto (pen), 75’ Felipe Anderson
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