LAZIO v AC MILAN: A PREVIOUS MEETING

Lazio v AC Milan in the girone di ritorno. This is never a banal fixture and has often been pivotal for both sides. In the two most recent meetings, the Rossoneri have experienced both joy and pain, even though last spring, Pioli's side bounced back after the loss against Lazio at the Olimpico. Going further back - to 18 years ago, AC Milan were also gunning for the Scudetto and, against Lazio, needed a big result after their closest rivals had all picked up points. Let's take a look at that hotly-contested fixture, the winning goal of which came from an unexpected source.

SETTING THE SCENE
Each of the five meetings between the two at the Olimpico prior to this fixture had ended in a draw. The Rossoneri were top of the league going into this one but had had an intense week, which began with a comeback victory in the derby against Inter and a 0-0 draw away at Sparta Praha in the Champions League in midweek. Given the absences through suspension (Kaká) and injury (Nesta) - as well as some tactical selections - Ancelotti's usual 4-3-1-2 was stocked with fresh personnel. While Lazio were well in a fight for Champions League football, and with the hosts bolstered by losses for Parma, Inter and Udinese, AC Milan were two points clear of Roma and three ahead of Juventus, with the game at the Olimpico still to play. Ancelotti went with Dida in goal; Cafu, Costacurta, Maldini and Kaladze in defence; Ambrosini (preferred to Gattuso, Pirlo and Seedorf in midfield; and Rui Costa in behind the two strikers, Shevchenko and Tomasson - the latter getting the nod ahead of Filippo Inzaghi, who was on the bench as was his brother Simone for Lazio.

ATTACKING FOOTBALL BUT DEFENCES ON TOP
AC Milan started on the front foot; the first chance was created by Shevchenko, but Tomason's effort was shut down by Favalli. More chances fell to the Rossoneri in the first quarter of an hour with Seedorf first setting up Tomasson and then Cafu to test the Lazio defence, who dealt with both efforts. Lazio then pushed forward and had opportunities to score through Corradi and Fiore, but first Dida and then Costacurta were not to be beaten. The hosts kept pushing and had two big chances from dead-ball situations, but an intense first half finished 0-0, with neither goalkeeper having made a save of note. The second half continued the theme of resolute defending, though Lazio did have a chance through Stam, who would join the Rossoneri at the end of the season.

AMBROSINI WINS IT
After Claudio López's wasted attempt from another set-piece, Mancini and Ancelotti both looked to the bench to change the face of the game. Gattuso and Inzaghi came on for Rui Costa and Tomasson for the Rossoneri. Lazio kept pushing and Dida was called into action to deny Fiore. The goal finally came, and what a move it was. Pirlo fed Cafu down the line; the Brazilian then skipped away from Favalli and found Seedorf making a run from midfield. The Dutchman looked for Ambrosini, who scored with a diving head for his first league goal of the season (his last goal in Serie A was in December 2002). The goal was somewhat of a redemption for the midfielder from Pesaro, who hadn't featured in Ancelotti's side for nine games in call competitions. No attempts of note from the Biancocelesti followed the opener and the game at the Olimpico ended with AC Milan claiming all the spoils, in what was a fantastic run-in at the Rossoneri claimed their 17th Scudetto.

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