Serie A 2022-23: Lazio vs AC Milan: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

The defending champions visit the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday

On Tuesday night, second place AC Milan visit Stadio Olimpico in hopes of tumbling the BiancoCelesti in order to close the gap on Napoli who are running away with the league at the midpoint of the season.

Lazio enters this encounter with a much refurbished side who are looking well organized under Mauricio Sarri. Sitting at 6th in the table, they are looking to overturn their previous season best by making it into the Champions League this season and they are just 3 points shy of that elusive spot. They booked a place in the Quarter final of the Coppa Italia by beating Bologna (1-0) to face a Juventus side wo now see themselves stranded at 10th in the league table after 15 points were deducted from their tally due to financial irregularities. Zaccagni scored the opener and Felipe Anderson sealed the deal against Sassuolo the last time they were out in the Serie A to give themselves a 2-0 victory.

AC Milan on the other hand were humbled by their city rivals Inter in the Supercoppa Italiana final (3-0) in their most recent fixture and Pioli’s side find themselves in an odd run of form in the recent weeks. Having scraped out a draw against mid table Lecce in their last Serie A fixture and heading out of Coppa Italia against Torino, they will now have to pull their socks up if they are to deny any chance of the team from Naples in winning the league. With a clash against Tottenham on the horizon in the Champions League, The Rossoneri need a massive surge of resurgence to get their season back on track in this fixture.

Kick-off:

Tuesday, 24th January; 07:45 pm (GMT)Wednesday, 25th January, 01:15 am (IST)

Lazio form (all competition): W-W-D-L-L

AC Milan form (all competition): L-D-L-D-W

Player to watch

Lazio

Felipe Anderson

Felipe Anderson has demonstrated that he can either play as a winger, an attacking midfielder or also a False 9 depending on the circumstances and is a much needed option for Sarri given the unavailability of Ciro Immobile. His 2022-2023 stats show that he has 5 goals and 3 assists in his name in the Serie A this season which is a much needed plus for Lazio.

AC Milan

Olivier Giroud

Giroud plays like an old fashioned No. 9, with his hold up play and chance creation in the final third being his most important qualities. He thrives off crosses and neat one-twos in and around the box, which is rare to find in out-and-out strikers. Giroud possesses strong technique and plays brilliantly on the first touch, while also being good in the air. He has 5 goals and 4 assists in his name for AC Milan this season.

Match facts

• Lazio lost all three of the matches last season when these two sides met each other.
• Onn average in direct matches, both teams have scored 2.66 goals per match. We might just witness a high goal scoring encounter!
• The hosts Lazio can be in touching distance over AC Milan and be just one point short if they manage a victory and surely end the title hopes for the Rossoneri.

Injury and team news

Ciro Immobile is yet to make a comeback due to a thigh injury and will be unavailable for this fixture. Sarri will have to bank his hopes on Anderson and Zaccagni to provide the goods as Mario Gila will also be unavailable due to a muscle issue.

AC Milan will be making the travel without the experience of Mike Maignan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic who are yet to return for several weeks. Pierre Kalulu is expected to be back in the defence for this vital clash as Simon Kjaer seemed a bit off guard in the Supercoppa Italiana final. Ante Rebic and Rade Krunic have had some issues with their muscle but are expected to start on the bench and might get a run out if things turn for the worse.

Head-to-Head stats

Matches: 59

Lazio: 11

Draws: 20

AC Milan: 28

Predicted lineup

Lazio predicted lineup (4-3-3):

Provedel; Hysaj, Casale, Romagnoli, Marusic; Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi, Alberto; Pedro, Andersen, Zaccagni

 AC Milan predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):

Tatarusanu; Calabria, Kalulu, Tomori, Hernandez; Tonali, Bennacer; Saelemaekers, Diaz, Leao; Giroud

Prediction

This will be a close encounter between two Serie A sides who are who well oragsnised and are playing beautiful football. Although Milan have had a topsy turvy run in the recent weeks, Ciro Immobile’s unavailability might come at a cost for the BiancoCelesti as Milan always look threatening on the road. Things might even out in the end as a loss might prove costly for both these teams.

Prediction:  Lazio 2-2 AC Milan

Telecast

UK -BT Sport

US- Paramount+

India- sports 18

Nigeria- Sporty TV