Serie A Preview: Lazio vs Milan – Team News, Lineup & Prediction | OneFootball

Stadio Olimpico sets the stage for a mouth-watering Serie A showdown between familiar foes Lazio and Milan. Saturday’s encounter in Italy’s capital pits two teams that have yet to lose a league fixture this season against each other.

Despite an ominous off-field turmoil, it’s been a superb start to the season for Lazio. After a pair of narrow 1-0 victories over Bologna and Genoa, Gennaro Gattuso’s side overturned a second-half deficit to beat Udinese 2-1 at the Bluenergy Stadium, with summer signings Albert Gudmundsson and Davide Frattesi getting on the scoresheet.

However, Lazio’s on-field success has done little to change their fans’ stance on the current ownership. In fact, the Biancocelesti’s most loyal supporters are set to boycott this clash in continued protest against President Claudio Lotito’s regime. A muted atmosphere at the Olimpico could play into Milan’s hands.

The Rossoneri suffered a late heartbreak at the Allianz Stadium last weekend, as Juventus scored a stoppage-time equalizer to deny new manager Ruben Amorim a perfect three-game start in Serie A. The 1-1 draw in Turin knocked Milan off a two-game winning run at the beginning of the season.

On a more promising note, teenage sensation Alphadjo Cisse scored his second league goal for the 19-time Italian champions, living up to the early-season hype in the absence of Christian Pulisic, who stayed on the bench. Still, it’s questionable whether Milan deserved a point, as they were utterly outplayed by Juventus.

Match Preview

Lazio

Gattuso, who has inspired Lazio to their best three-game Serie A start since the 2012/13 season, is about to face his sternest test yet. The 48-year-old played for Milan between 1999 and 2012, becoming one of the club’s legends before returning as the Rossoneri’s head coach between 2017 and 2019.

The former midfielder must now set his feelings aside if he’s to maintain his flawless league record in charge of Lazio as they bid to improve on last season’s disappointing ninth-place finish. There’s no better place than the Olimpico for Lazio to continue their high-flying run, considering they’ve lost just one of their last seven home league outings (W4, D2, L1).

A gutsy 1-0 win over Milan toward the end of last season forms part of that hot streak, and the Biancocelesti have every reason to expect another favorable outcome here. Indeed, they’ve gone unbeaten in their last three home meetings with the Rossoneri across all competitions (W2, D1), managing two clean sheets in the process.

Milan

Milan’s underwhelming performance in Turin may have derailed the feel-good factor at San Siro, and there’s little doubt that they’ll be out to make amends in the capital. Returning to winning ways in a tricky fixture such as this would lift their spirits ahead of next week’s Europa League opener against Benfica.

Needless to say, Milan cannot afford to take anything for granted, not least because of their patchy form on the road. Amorim’s charges have blown hot and cold across their last seven Serie A travels (W3, D1, L3). That said, those three defeats are Milan’s only slumps in their 21 most recent away league matches (W12, D6).

However, Milan’s agonizingly slow starts under Amorim could dent their hopes of securing their first away win over Lazio since March 2024. With each of their seven Serie A goals this season coming after halftime, the Rossoneri must find a way to hit the ground running if they’re to avoid another frustrating afternoon.

Team News

In addition to Danilo Cataldi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Adam Marusic, and Nicolo Rovella, Lazio could also be without Luca Pellegrini and Patric, who are still lacking match fitness. Despite netting a winning goal in Udine last weekend, Gudmundsson is more likely to start on the bench on Saturday, with Tijjani Noslin expected to lead the line for the hosts.

Meanwhile, Amorim will have his entire Milan squad fit and ready for this contest after Matteo Gabbia resumed training earlier this week. After a decisive off-the-bench contribution against Juventus, Samuel Chukwueze and Cisse should both return to the starting lineup, while Sankhoun Diawara could make his Serie A debut at the expense of former Lazio star Mario Gila, who’s not 100% fit.

Lazio vs Milan Potential Starting Lineups

Lazio (4-3-3): Mandas; Mussolini, Doekhi, Provstgaard, Tavares; Frattesi, Belahyane, Taylor; Isaksen, Noslin, Zaccagni.

Milan (3-4-2-1): Maignan; Diawara, De Winter, Pavlovic; Moreira, Modric, Musah, Chukwueze; Rabiot, Cisse; Ramos.

Lazio vs Milan Prediction

Lazio’s unbeaten start and strong home record make this a tricky assignment for Milan, but the Rossoneri head to the capital determined to bounce back. With several Lazio players doubtful and their most loyal supporters set to stay away, the visitors could capitalize on the unusual circumstances at the Olimpico and return to winning ways.