Useless draw

Season 2015-16

Game 30, Serie A

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan

Milan Lazio 1-1

Both teams could have won, but in the end, they had to settle for a draw which does not change their season much

The beginning of the second half of the season followed in the footsteps of the first. To make matters worse was the incredible elimination from the Europa League. Lazio had played really well in Europe and after the group stage had to play against Galatasaray in February. 1-1 away and a comfortable 3-1 win at home. Next up was Sparta Prague. There was optimism after drawing the away leg 1-1. And then the debacle that nobody expected. Lazio lost 3-0 at home. A collapse.

The Biancocelesti were eighth, the last place for Europa League, held by Milan, was seven points away. Next game was against the Rossoneri and Lazio had not won in Milan since 1989.

The match

Lazio started the game really well and crushed Milan in their own half. In the seventh minute Marco Parolo had a chance but his shot was deflected into corner by Cristian Zapata. Lucas Biglia took it, cross into the box, Parolo jumped higher than anyone else and headed the ball in. Milan in difficulty and Antonio Candreva in 14th minute tried a shot that went wide.

A minute later, Milan equalised. Keisuke Honda to Luiz Adriano in the box. He was back to the goal and falling but he managed to pass to Carlos Bacca who, with a splendid right external shot, beat Federico Marchetti.

The Rossoneri tried to score again but were dangerous only in the 37th minute when Giacomo Bonaventura hit the crossbar on a free kick.

In the beginning of the second half, Alessio Romagnoli sent a long ball into the Lazio half, Edson Braafheid miskicked it, it was picked up by Bacca who tried a shot, Marchetti parried. In the 51st minute Bonaventura tried a shot from outside the area on the left but Marchetti saved into corner. Four minutes later Bacca went off on the right and passed a splendid ball to Honda who wasted the opportunity by kicking the ball into the stands.

Lazio in trouble but in the 67th minute they had a big chance. In a quick counter attack, Senad Lulic one-twoed with Alessandro Matri and passed a splendid ball to Felipe Anderson who entered the box and close to the goalkeeper tried a shot which Gigi Donnarumma miraculously saved into corner. Three minutes later, another spectacular save by Marchetti on a short range Bonaventura shot.

In the 84th minute Lulic got a second booking and left the game early. Just before the end, clear handball in the area by Zapata, ignored by the referee.

Useless draw for both teams.

Who played for Milan

Donnarumma, Abate, Zapata, Romagnoli, Antonelli, Honda (84' Menez), Montolivo, Bertolacci, Bonaventura, Luiz Adriano (74' Balotelli), Bacca

Substitutes: Abbiati, Diego Lopez, De Sciglio, Alex, Mexes, Calabria, Poli, Locatelli, J. Mauri, Boateng

Manager: Mihajlovic

Who played for Lazio

Marchetti, Patric, Bisevac, Hoedt, Braafheid, Biglia, Candreva (88’ Mauricio), Parolo, Lulic, Felipe Anderson, Matri (80’ Djordjevic)