Week 3: Milan – Lazio
A dominant first half versus Cagliari made for a big and important 4-1 win heading into a busy international break. Milan’s relatively few capped players faced a grueling schedule with some three matches in two weeks. FIFA is cramming as many 2022 World Cup qualifying matches as possible in order to finish the pandemic enforced delayed games. Not every player played all minutes of course. National team coaches are forced into line up changes to rest players. Nevertheless the full schedule has affected player availability.
One such player is Saelemaekers. The Belgian played 183 minutes across three matches for Belgium and may be rested for this week 3 match. Florenzi is tipped to start in his place. The Italian played 64 minutes in one of Azzurri’s matches and made an error leading to a goal. In the international break Giroud tested positive for COVID-19 and has been self isolating. He was cleared only one day before facing Lazio and may be on the bench. Ibra is back in the squad after months out so Rebic is the likely starter. The same is said about Kjaer. The Danish likely needs a rest too and therefore Romagnoli could get the start alongside Tomori.
Calabria and Hernandez should be the full backs completing the defense in front of Maignan.
Elsewhere on the pitch Bennacer may start on the bench allowing a Kessie and Tonali tandem. Kessie is another injured returnee and his contract is turning into a saga and one that has angered many. Diaz and Leao will be other attacking players.
Like Milan, Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio have won their first two games. A relatively healthy squad of course features Ciro Immobile. The forward is doing well again, unlike when with the Azzurri. New Lazio player Mattia Zaccagni has had a good start following a loan from Verona.
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