Serie A: Lazio to Add to Milan’s Growing Pains

Lazio vs Milan

Gennaro Gattuso takes Milan to Rome this weekend for the big Serie A clash of Round 13 against Lazio, with just one point separating the two sides.

There will be a red-hot atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico as the Lazio Ultras welcome their heroes and do their damndest to intimidate the visitors. That won’t faze Gattusso and his team; he’s as tough as nails. What will worry the Milan boss is his lengthening injury list as we enter the winter months.

Already 12 points behind league leaders Juventus, the primary aim for Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio is to win a Champions League place, and the same can be said for Milan. They currently occupy fourth place while the Rossoneri sit one place and one point behind their opponents.

Napoli should be safe for a top-four place according to Serie A 2018 betting odds, so it looks like two spots will be available to be contested by these two teams and their big city rivals Inter and Roma.

And that makes this a massive game.

Talking Points

Milan’s injury crisis

Most of the recent Serie A 2018 updates emerging from Milan have been around the ever-growing list of the walking wounded. One of the biggest losses is Mr Milan himself, Giacomo Bonaventura. The midfielder is the heartbeat of the Rossoneri and the bad news is he could be out until March. Gattuso is already looking to bring in a replacement, and Milan fans would love to see Chilean warhorse Arturo Vidal arrive, a player in the image of their head coach.

Milan’s defence has been decimated in recent weeks. Club captain Alessio Romagnoli has been sidelined with a calf strain. That means Cristian Zapata is the only recognised centre-back still standing, with Mattia Caldara and Mateo Mussachio already out until the New Year. Hopefully, Romagnoli would be back within a month. But in the meantime, Gattusso needs to patch up his rearguard and he might give a debut to young centre-half Stefano Simic.

Gonzalo Higuain was sent off during their match against Juventus and will miss the Serie A game against Lazio — AC Milan’s Gonzalo Higuain leaves the pitch after he received a red card during their match against Juventus

Midfielder Lucas Biglia is out with a long-term injury, and the Rossoneri might make a move for Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas to plug that gap. And if all that’s not enough for Gattuso to contend with, he has lost his best striker to suspension! Milan’s big miss up top will be star striker Gonzalo Higuain, who had a nightmare in their home defeat to Juventus. He missed a penalty before receiving his marching orders, and so he’ll have to sit this big game out. It’s down to young Patrick Cutrone and Suso to try to give the Milan defence a break on Sunday.

Can Lazio take advantage?

In front of a passionate crowd and against a team in tatters, you would like to think so. But a recent 0-3 home defeat to Inter Milan was a serious blow to Lazio’s momentum, so they need to remain tight at the back (Cutrone and Suso are dangerous strikers), dominate the ball and take their chances when they come.

As ever, Lazio rely heavily on the goals of Ciro Immobile, currently the second top scorer in Serie A with eight goals and level with Cristiano Ronaldo. But as Milan can testify, counting on one player too heavily is a risk. Inzaghi has plenty of talent in his armoury, though. And in Argentine Joaquin Correa, Lazio have one of the best dribblers in Serie A and an attacking midfielder with a good eye for goal.

History

Home advantage is often the decider in this clash of Serie A heavyweights, with 11 home wins and two away wins in the last 13 matches with a positive result.

The hosts have won eight of their last ten games at the Stadio Olimpico, while Milan won just four of their last fifteen games on the road; I can see this trend continuing.

Having said all that, the Rossoneri are still way ahead in the head-to-heads, with 25 wins and 22 draws in the 58 games played since 1993, and just 11 wins for Lazio.

But again, both results went to the hosts last season, a 2-1 win for Milan and a 4-1 win for Lazio.

Betting tip

	Lazio vs AC Milan	Lazio 1X2@ 1.84
	November 26, 1:00 (GMT+8)

With such a weight in home advantage and such a big injury list for Milan, I can only see this game going one way.

But if you fancy an alternative bet and think Milan’s makeshift side can frustrate Lazio, then take a look at the SBOBET odds; you can get 1.89 on a double chance of Milan or Draw.

A first-half draw is available at 2.10, but I think the Biancocelesti will have enough to unlock an inexperienced Milan defence at some stage.