Analysis Milan - Lazio
2/14/03 11:13
Milan plunged into a “mini-crisis” lately when they lost two out of
the last three league games. They lost to Udinese 1-0 and to Perugia by
the same score line. Both were away games. The losses meant that they
lost the Serie A leadership to their fierce city rivals Internazionale,
who is ahead by three points.
Lazio is also a team in crisis, but of a different kind. Financial troubles
have led to a fire-sale of key players such as Juan Pablo Sorin to
Barcelona. Failure to pay their players have also led to court action
taken by Jaap Stam against the club. Stam recently won his legal battle
with Lazio over unpaid money owed to the player, which could force the
towering defender to leave the club. Such internal strife is likely to
cause discord on the pitch too.
Milan’s Brazilian left midfielder Serginho is out for an ankle injury
and may not be back until they face Lokomotiv Moscow on February 17 for
a Champions League clash. Danish midfielder Thomas Helveg is also doubtful
after opting out of the national friendly against Cairo midweek.
Lazio’s best defender, Sinisa Mihajlovic is still recovering from a
thigh problem but may grace the bench this match.
Alessandro Nesta, signed from Lazio in he summer, should be a key figure
in the contest. The Italian international has topped the Opta defenders
Index for the past three weeks due to his colossal performances at the
back, where he has amassed more than a century of clearances and made 18
blocks – more than any of his colleagues.
As a unit, Milan boast the join-tightest rearguard in Serie A having
leaked an average of just 0.7 goals per game. Goalkeeper Nelson de Jesus
Dida has played a pivotal role in this achievement, getting his body
behind 82% of the shots levelled at his goal this term – a divisional
high – and will offer a solid last lie of defence against Lazio.
Roberto Mancini will be pinning his hopes on Claudio Lopez to carry the
Rome outfit’s main threat. Since opening his 2002-03 account against
the Milanese club in the third game of the season, the former Valencia
hitman has taken his tally to 10 and tested the opposition custodian
with half of his efforts.
However, Lopez is not the only dangerman. Fellow countryman Diego Simeone
has scored in his last two outings and is currently ranked as Serie A’s
most effective midfielder. The Argentinian provides the cut and thrust
from the middle of the park and his performance will be integral to
Lazio’s fortunes on the day.
Despite Lazio’s good performance this season, its financial troubles
are likely to sap the motivation of their players. Lazio managed to win
only three out of the last ten games. They have not won for the last
three games. Although they hold the best away record in Serie A; unbeaten
in ten games, they are likely to lose it at the San Siro.
Milan has the better attack and defence. They also retains possession
better, stringing a staggering 527 passes per game compared to 423 by
Lazio. With their array of stars and an understanding beginning to grow
among the players, Milan is surely too strong to beat especially in the
San Siro. Milan should win AC Milan’s probable XI, substitutes in
brackets (4-3-1-2):
Goalkeepers: Nelson Dida, (Christian Abbiati).
Defenders: Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini, Jose Vitor Roque Junior,
Kakha Kaladze, (Jose Antonio Chamot), (Dario Simic), (Alessandro Costacurta).
Midfielders: Rui Costa, Massimo Ambrosini, Clarence Seedorf, (Ivan Gennaro
Gattuso).
Attacking Midfielders: ,Vitor Borba Rivaldo, (Andrea Pirlo).
Strikers: Filippo Inzaghi, Andrei Shevchenko, (Jon Dahl Tomasson).
Lazio’s probable XI, substitutes in brackets (5-2-1-2):
Goalkeepers: Angelo Peruzzi, (Luca Marchegiani).
Defenders: Aparecido Caesar, Giuseppe Favalli, Jaap Stam, Massimo Oddo,
Paolo Negro, (Sinisa Mihajlovic), (Fernando Couto), (Giuseppe Pancaro).
Midfielders: Diego Simeone, Stefano Fiore, (Fabio Liverani), (Giuliano
Giannichedda).
Attacking Midfielders: Dejan Stankovic, (Nikola Lazetic)
Strikers: Enrico Chiesa, Claudio Lopez, (Bernardo Corradi), (Simone Inzaghi).
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