LAZIO v AC MILAN: TIME MACHINE

Important matches, often marked by top performances from the two teams' forwards. Lazio v AC Milan is a fixture that promises to entertain, and this one, from the final day of the first half of the season, should be no exception. We approach this Tuesday evening fixture at the Stadio Olimpico by reliving five previous fixtures, from the most recent to more dated, in our usual Time Machine.

3 DECEMBER 1995: WEAH ON FIRE
Minute 87, matchday 12. The Rossoneri came from a long unbeaten run in the league (six games, including a 3-0 win over Piacenza in the previous round) and led the standings two points ahead of second-placed Parma, but they struggled to get the better of a tough Lazio side, who arrived just five points behind AC Milan. It took a stroke of genius and talent to break down such a balanced, tight defence. In his first season with the Rossoneri, George Weah had already proved vital on three occasions - Padova, Roma and Juventus - and the match at the Stadio Olimpico was an opportunity to make it a fourth. Weah picked up a loose ball, knocking it past Sensini and sprinted ahead, beating first the two defenders and then Mancini in goal. For the Rossoneri's number 9 it was his fifth goal of the season, for the Rossoneri it was three important points on the road to the Scudetto.

3 OCTOBER 1999: SHEVA'S TREBLE
From great striker to great striker, from Weah - incidentally a starter on that October evening - to Shevchenko, at the dawn of his journey with the Rossoneri. A challenge worthy of two winners, with AC Milan sporting the Centenary Tricolore on their chests (obtained at the end of a splendid duel with the Capitolini) and Lazio who would go on to win the Scudetto at the end of the season. The Biancocelesti were on a roll and went 3-1 up after just 38 minutes. In the next half-hour, straddling both halves, the 'Sheva Show' was staged at the Olimpico. In the 43rd minute: assisted by Guglielminpietro, Andriy runs past Favalli, then Marchegiani and scores his third goal of the season. In the 63rd minute: he bagged his second, his first for the Rossoneri, then Weah converted a penalty. In the 68th minute: A scuffed shot from Weah found Sheva who shot towards the far post after an exhilarating dribble past Pancaro, sealed his hat-trick. From 3-1 down to 4-3 up. A few minutes later Salas would find an equaliser, but that evening in Rome would remain the Ukrainian number 7's first great night with the Rossoneri.

26 SEPTEMBER 2004: ANDRIY AGAIN AT THE OLIMPICO
Almost exactly five years later, Andriy Shevchenko returned to put on a show at the Stadio Olimpico. Again in an AC Milan side with the Tricolore on their chest, and just a few months after winning their Ballon d'Or. This time, unlike in 1999, the Rossoneri's comeback was successful despite being outnumbered due to Ambrosini's red card at the start of the second half. After 70 minutes, a splendid turn in the box to evade a scramble from a corner. In the 74th minute, Kaká's throw in after a relay of passes with substitute Tomasson: Shevchenko dribbled past Couto - who had given Lazio the lead - and shot past Peruzzi once again, sending the supporting Rossoneri into raptures. It was Andriy's 11th career goal at the Stadio Olimpico, a particularly favoured ground for the Ukranian.

8 NOVEMBER 2009: A BRAZILIAN MASTERCLASS
After two comprehensive victories for the Rossoneri - 5-1 in October 2007, 3-0 in February 2009 - the November 2009 fixture also brought with it a desire for revenge from the part of the Biancocelesti, who were lagging behind in the standings compared to the top teams. AC Milan, however, had other intentions and produced an important first half that afternoon at the Stadio Olimpico, scoring in the 21st minute with Thiago Silva's first goal for the Rossoneri, deftly slotting home a Pirlo free-kick. In the 35th minute, another header this time all 'Made in Brazil': Ronaldinho's cross finding Pato, who anticipated the defender, scoring his fifth goal of the season. Lazio pulled one back in the second half with an unlucky own goal by Thiago Silva, but at the end of 90 minutes all three points belonged to the Rossoneri.

24 APRIL 2022: SANDRO'S RUN
Giroud's turn in the derby or his strike against Napoli. Theo's run against Atalanta. Leão's goal against Fiorentina. All unforgettable moments in the run-up to the Rossoneri's 19th Scudetto. None, in terms of the drama of the situation, probably equalled Sandro Tonali's goal at the Olimpico against Lazio. A last-gasp goal, to reward Ibrahimović's great effort, that ended with Sandro wheeling away towards a Curva Sud entirely filled with Rossoneri away fans. The moment the dream really began to take shape, the goal that ideally launched May's exhilarating final charge, culminating in the afternoon in Reggio Emilia.

Match KITs, clothing, accessories, gift ideas and much more: visit AC Milan online Store!