2022-23 Season
Game 19
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 decides to put Adam Marusic on the right in order to stop Rafael Leao, otherwise, seeing that Ciro Immobile is out due to injury, the team is the usual. The weekend results give Lazio a great chance to get back into the Champions League zone.
Milan, who have not played very well lately and lost the Super Coppa 3-0 last week in the derby against Inter, leave Theo Hernandez at home and Stefano Pioli puts Sergino Dest in his place.
The match
Lazio start the game in magnificent style. In the 5th minute Felipe Anderson passes the ball to Mattia Zaccagni on the left, ball in the middle of the box, Luis Alberto lets it pass under his legs, Felipe Anderson also lets it go, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic transforms himself into Immobile and it's 1-0 for Lazio.
At this point a long chess game between the two teams commences. Everybody is moving according to the script prepared by their managers, Lazio are more cautious since they are leading, Milan maybe lack aggressiveness. In the 19th minute Sandro Tonali from a central position outside the box shoots, the ball is deflected but Ivan Provedel has no problems in making the save.
In the 22nd minute Pioli is forced to substitute Fikayo Tomori with Simon Kjaer due to injury.
In the 30th minute Milinkovic-Savic near the corner kick sends in a perfect ball for Zaccagni whose volley is deflected off a Milan defender into corner. Six minutes later Pedro’s acceleration cuts through the Milan defence but his pass to Felipe Anderson is just a fraction too late and the Brazilian is anticipated by Dest.
In the 38th minute Pedro’s passes a wonderful ball on the right to Marusic who shoots. The ball is deflected by Ciprian Tatarusanu onto the far post but Zaccagni is there for the tap in. 2-0 for Lazio.
A spectacular first half by the Biancocelesti. For the third consecutive game, Milan are trailing 2-0 at the interval.
Second half
Milan a lot more aggressive in the second half and Lazio are in slight difficulty. In the 50th minute a great free kick by Ismael Bennacer, slightly deflected off the wall, is only just wide. Pioli sends in three players: Alexis Saelemekers, Charles De Ketelaere and Divock Origi replace Junior Messias, Brahim Diaz and Olivier Giroud.
In the 62nd minute Milan have their best chance. De Ketelaere lobs a ball into the box for Leao who, disturbed by Elseid Hysaj, shoots over the crossbar.
In the 67th minute Lazio make it three. Hysaj sends a long ball on the left to Felipe Anderson who races down the pitch to get to it first. He is alone against the Milan defence so he waits for Pedro to get into the middle of the box. When the Spaniard arrives, ball to him. As Pedro is about to shoot he is fouled by Pierre Kalulu. The ref indicates that it's a penalty. Luis Alberto takes the spot kick and it's 3-0 for Lazio.
Lazio are in complete control and playing beautifully and soon it’s 4-0. Zaccagni on the left just outside the box sends the ball in to Luis Alberto who, like the magician he is, invents a fantastic pass to Felipe Anderson in front of Tatarusanu. No mistake and game over.
All that is left are the remaining substitutions. In the 78th minute in come Luka Romero and Manuel Lazzari for Pedro and Marusic for Lazio and Ante Rebic for Leo. In the 83rd minute Toma Basic substitutes Milinkovic-Savic and four minutes later Marcos Antonio for Danilo Cataldi.
Beautiful 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.
Substitutes: Maximiano, Adamonis, Patric, Radu, Fares, Vecino, Bertini, Cancellieri.
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
Comments