Lazio returned from their journey to San Siro with contemporary three factors after a hard-fought and barely controversial victory over AC Milan. Mattia Zaccagni scored for the Biancocelesti within the twenty eighth minute, and his group obtained an additional increase when Milan defender Strahinja Pavlovic was proven a straight crimson card within the 67th. Milan fought valiantly with 10 males and ultimately equalized within the 87th by means of substitute Samuel Chuwueze, however the recreation was settled by a really late penalty for Lazio, transformed by veteran Pedro nearly eight minutes after the 90 had expired.
Groups
Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao was with out the companies of right-back Emerson Royal (muscle), in addition to left-back Alessandro Florenzi (knee) and midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek (knock).
Conceicao named 19-year-old Alejandro Jimenez on the proper defensive flank, with Theo Hernandez, Matteo Gabia and Strahinja Pavlovic comprising the remainder of the again line, forward of goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Youssouf Fofana and Yunus Musah paired up in the course of the park, with the trio of Christian Pulisic, Tijjani Reijnders and Rafael Leao supporting Santiago Gimenez in assault.
Lazio boss Marco Baroni additionally had vital accidents to work round, specifically striker Taty Castellanos (thigh), midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (ankle), former Milan captain Alessio Romagnoli, and fellow defender Elseid Hysaj.
With Ivan Provedel in aim, centre-backs Samuel Gigot and Mario Gila had been flanked by Nuno Tavares and Adam Marusic. In midfield, Matteo Guendouzi stood subsequent to Nicolo Rovella, whereas Mattia Zaccagni, Boulaye Dia and Gustav Isaksen performed behind striker Loum Tchaouna.
Sport recap
The match started in an unpleasantly quiet ambiance as Milan’s Curva Sud ultras left their part empty till the fifteenth minute in protest towards proprietor Gerry Cardinale, Conceicao, in addition to the gamers, amid a disappointing season.
Lazio dominated the early levels, with Dia racing by means of on aim after a Rovella go, just for Maignan to disclaim him with a pointy save. A harmful pullback from Nuno Tavares almost led to an personal aim by Pavlovic, whereas Isaksen fired simply large from distance.
The guests lastly took a deserved lead within the twenty eighth minute when Maignan parried Marusic’s shot into the trail of Zaccagni, who tapped in on the again submit.
A annoyed Conceicao launched Joao Felix for Musah, however Lazio remained the extra threatening aspect, with Zaccagni volleying simply large earlier than Milan had been jeered off by the house crowd at halftime.
The hosts responded after the break, with Felix blasting over and Gimenez glancing a header narrowly off track. Nonetheless, their hopes of a comeback suffered a blow within the 67th minute when Pavlovic was despatched off for what was deemed a last-man foul on Isaksen throughout a Lazio counterattack.
Regardless of being all the way down to 10 males, Milan discovered an equalizer six minutes from time when Samuel Chukwueze powered a header previous Provedel from a Leao cross.
However simply as Milan regarded to have salvaged a degree, Maignan fouled Isaksen within the field in stoppage time, permitting Pedro to transform the penalty and hand Milan their third straight league defeat.
Debatable calls
Referee Gianluca Manganiello made two very large choices which clearly impacted the competition vastly, each going towards Milan and in favour of Lazio.
There may be no denying the truth that Pavlovic’s deal with on Isaksen was late – it was a foul and a bookable one at that, but it surely’s extremely debatable whether or not Isaksen’s place in that state of affairs may be classed as a transparent goalscoring alternative. It occurred properly exterior the field, barely large on the proper, whereas two different Milan gamers had been slicing throughout from the opposite aspect. A number of digital camera angles arguably point out that at the very least one would’ve gotten there in time to stop Isaksen from going one-on-one with Maignan.
Nonetheless, Manganiello was very fast to flash the crimson card at Pavlovic.
Deep in stoppage time, Isaksen did go one-on-one with Maignan, bought to the ball first and poked it away from the Milan goalkeeper, who pulled his arms out to not commit a foul however nonetheless caught the Lazio winger along with his trailing legs. The contact was there, but it surely was very clear that Isaksen had poked it too arduous, and there was no approach for him to retrieve it earlier than it crossed the pitch boundary.
In reality, Manganiello didn’t even give the penalty at first, awarding Milan a goal-kick, however the VAR intervened this time and despatched him to the display, prompting a change of resolution.
From a impartial perspective, each these calls could possibly be described as 50-50, which might imply that neither of Manganiello’s preliminary calls was a “clear and apparent error” and that the VAR was proper to not get entangled when Pavlovic bought his marching orders, however based mostly on the identical precept, there ought to’ve been no late penalty for Lazio.
Conceicao below elevated strain
Be that as it might, Milan’s general efficiency on this match was precisely the sort which has gotten them the place they’re. Conceicao’s tenure started with Suppercoppa glory, however the Rossoneri have since been eradicated from the Champions League by the hands of Feyenoord, and the third league defeat in a row has pushed them all the way down to ninth place.
There may be plenty of high quality in Conceicao’s squad, complemented notably by the arrivals of Kyle Walker and Santiago Gimenez this winter, however the group merely couldn’t establish the proper solution to go ahead, to create a correct probability, or forestall the guests from repeatedly inflicting them issues by means of fast transition.
If issues don’t enhance very quickly, Conceicao is more likely to discover himself strolling by means of the exit door somewhat quickly. The video games away to Lecce and at dwelling towards Como MUST be received, particularly with the Coppa Italia semifinal first leg towards Inter Milan and a visit to Napoli to return after that.
Lazio plow on
Whereas issues look very gloomy for Milan in the meanwhile, the view may be very completely different from the opposite aspect. Lazio received’t be trying again at this recreation for too lengthy – the three factors they took have pushed them straight into the highest 4, although they are going to be conscious that they’re more likely to finish the spherical in fifth, after Juventus host Hellas Verona in Turin on Monday.
Baroni’s group will now begin making ready for the double header towards Viktoria Plzen within the Europa League spherical of 16, with a house match towards Udinese nestled in between.
