An in-form AC Milan will be eager to further cement their title credentials when they host a Lazio side desperate to get back to a relevant place.

Massimiliano Allegri will have been happy with the manner in which his AC Milan side secured the win in the derby away at Inter Milan last weekend as he prepares his charges for the game against Lazio. A Christian Pulisic strike proved enough to secure the points, but keeper Mike Maignan deserved all the credit for keeping the Rossoneri in the lead.

The win over Inter Milan proved the Rossoneri have been the better team in this fixture over the course of six games across all competitions. However, the victory took them as close as two points off surprise leaders AS Roma, while Allegri’s men certainly cemented their role as title challengers this season.

However, a tricky fixture against Lazio awaits AC Milan, and this is somewhat of a must-win encounter. Should the hosts come out as winners, they would go temporarily to the top, and there’s a big chance for them to stay top because leaders AS Roma will take on fellow challengers Napoli later.

Meanwhile, Lazio are seeking to return to one of the Champions League spots in the table, but for that, they must show consistency. The Biancocelesti have shown a topsy-turvy form of late, but their latest result was a win over Lecce last weekend.

Unbeaten in seven out of their last eight games in Serie A, the only defeat in the period came away at the San Siro against Inter Milan. Now, Maurizio Sarri must engineer a good result at the venue while facing AC Milan. They are seeking to get closer to the top four in the standings, although Sarri’s record against Allegri might be one of the talking points.

Team News & Tactics

AC Milan

Massimiliano Allegri does not have too many issues, but key man Pulisic is a major fitness doubt for this upcoming clash. Depending on the USMNT star’s availability, the manager might consider Rafael Leao and Christopher Nkunku as his front two.

Full-back Zachary Athekame is also missing out, as Allegri will continue to prefer a back three of Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia, and Strahinja Pavlovic there.

Alexis Saelemaekers and Davide Bartesaghi are the preferred options in the wing-back roles, while Luka Modric will lead the midfield setup alongside Youssouf Fofana and Adrien Rabiot. The aforementioned Leao and Nkunku are likely to lead the line if Pulisic is deemed unfit for this clash.

Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Leao, Nkunku

Lazio

Maurizio Sarri’s injury list is rather long, with the likes of Samuel Gigot, Matteo Cancellieri, and Nicolo Rovella all missing from action. Meanwhile, Danilo Cataldi and Taty Castellanos are in significant doubt for this trip to San Siro.

Castellanos only resumed training after a seven-week layoff with an injury, and should Sarri decide against using him, then Boulaye Dia will deputise in the front line, who has incidentally not found the back of the net since replacing Castellanos in the lineup.

Sarri will go with a back four of Adam Marusic, Mario Gila, Alessio Romagnoli, and Luca Pellegrini, while Matteo Guendouzi, Matias Vecino and Toma Basic will be in the midfield. Dia will be supported by Gustav Isaksen and Mattia Zaccagni in the attacking third.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Guendouzi, Vecino, Basic; Isaksen, Dia, Zaccagni

Key Stats

• Lazio have kept a clean sheet in five of their last six matches in Serie A.
• Lazio are unbeaten in seven of their last eight Serie A games.
• AC Milan are undefeated in their last 11 matches in Serie A.
• AC Milan have kept six clean sheets in Serie A this season.

Player to Watch

Luka Modric

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AC Milan’s decision to sign veteran midfielder Modric has been a sensational one, as the Croatian playmaker has brought about a leadership that was previously lacking on this side. The former Real Madrid great has managed to help the Rossoneri reach new heights, and it will be his presence that will cement his team’s credentials as firm title contenders.

Once again, Massimiliano Allegri will look at Modric to bring his experience on the pitch in this tricky clash at home against Lazio. Modric will be key to how Milan operates in this game, as he has so far shown his presence is what the team needs.

Prediction

AC Milan 1-0 Lazio

These are two teams in a good vein of form, but Lazio might be lacking a bit due to their many injuries. However, Maurizio Sarri has the brains and experience to put up with Massimiliano Allegri’s tactics in this game, which promises to be a cagey encounter.

Milan have relied on their defensive resilience this season, which is what Allegri will lean on once again. Their cagey one-nil win over rival Inter Milan could be the precursor for this upcoming clash, as the Rossoneri are once again expected to thrash out a narrow victory and go top of the Serie A standings, albeit temporarily.