Week 34: Milan – Lazio

Milan all but threw away a top four spot by dropping yet more points against a lowly team. The 1-1 home tie versus in Cremonese comes amidst a busy run of games that includes the Champions League semis against Inter. The schedule compels coaches to rotate and rest some players of course but Milan’s bench has been shown to be below sub par and Pioli’s use of the players at his disposal questionable. The alarming ineffectiveness De Ketelaere has reached a new low level with the flop word deservedly being used. The lack of an Adli sighting has yet more observers scratching their heads. Giroud and Diaz are among those who need to do more and take their chances more.

With a relatively healthy team and the need to win few surprises are expected. Some reports claim that Diaz will be benched in favour for midweek goal scorer Messias. Otherwise the starting 11 should feature Maignan, Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori and Theo at the back. Tonali and Krunic should be the midfield anchors with Bennacer in the now settled further forward spot. Messias and Leao behind Giroud are the likely forward line.

Mattia Zaccagni is a question mark for Lazio but Sarri’s men count on Ciro Immobile up front. Alessio Romagnoli is of course at the heart of Lazio’s back line.

Lazio had been riding high and still sit second in the Serie A table. Two losses in their last three games comes after an impressive league run earlier in the year. It is of course a must win for Milan if the fading top four chances are to be preserved. Milan are currently in sixth place tied at 58 points with Atalanta and Roma. Lazio are only six points ahead.

Congratulations go out to Napoli for winning their first Scudetto in 33 years.