DEFEAT IN THE CAPITAL
Serie A
A heavy defeat: AC Milan were beaten 3-0 at the Olimpico by Lazio, who scored through a Correa brace and an Immobile goal, in what was a negative display for the away side. It's a painful one to take. The Rossoneri needed a positive reaction after losing to Sassuolo but, just a few days on, the team looked fragile, still shocked from Wednesday's false step. The Rossoneri were leaky at the back and not incisive enough on the front foot. The difficulties and issues at the moment are revealing. The answer here is to not create drama and to remember what they have done until this point; with five games left until the end of the season, the objective remains very much within reach. Now more than ever, the team needs to band together, get their heads down and give their all in every single minute in the remaining matches. Qualification to the Champions League has become somewhat complicated but the Diavolo is still in the fight on 66 points (level with Napoli and Juve). AC Milan are back in action on Saturday 1 May, when they host Benevento at San Siro at 20:45 CEST.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM LAZIO V AC MILAN
REPORT
Çalhanoğlu's effort, which tested the goalkeeper just a few seconds in, seemed promising for the guests but it was a false start. Lazio took the lead in just the second minute: Correa won the ball, played a neat one-two with Immobile, skipped past Donnarumma and stroked home. The situation almost worsened in double-quick time; in the fifth minute, the second ball dropped to Immobile in front of goal, but Gigio made a miraculous recovery. Correa then fired over from inside the box (12') and threatened again in the 24th minute. AC Milan looked to make something of the game; in the 29th minute, Rebić had a go but couldn't hit the target. In the 31st minute, Çalhanoğlu, who was unleashed by Saelemaekers, found himself one-on-one with Reina but the Turk fired straight at the 'keeper. Hernández then fired over (40'). The Rossoneri found themselves in trouble in the 43rd minute when Lazzari found himself through on goal and fired past Donnarumma into the back of the net, but VAR disallowed the goal for offside. Before the break, Mandžukić had an excellent chance but couldn't get the right contact on it. Half time.
The Biancocelesti came back out from the break well in charge and doubled their lead in the 51st minute, Correa again. The Argentine did well to beat Tomori and rifle the ball home. There were some protests from the Rossoneri for a foul on Çalhanoğlu in the build-up, but they were waved away by referee Orasto after he went to check on the VAR screen. Personnel changes did little to stem the tide and the Diavolo didn't manage to kick off a comeback. In the 73rd minute, Çalhanoğlu (deflected) hit the post and Tomori's headed effort from a corner found only the welcoming gloves of Reina. The hosts bagged their third as the game wound to a close; in the 87th minute, Immobile - who minutes before had hit the post with a deft chip - unleashed from the edge of the penalty area and the ball wound up in the bottom corner. Tonali and Kessie, who hit the crossbar in the 90th minute with a volleyed effort, saw out a torrid night for the Rossoneri. Full time.
MATCH DETAILS
LAZIO 3-0 AC MILAN
LAZIO (3-5-2): Reina; Marušić, Acerbi, Radu; Lazzari, Milinković-Savić, Leiva (88' Cataldi), Luis Alberto (88' Akpa Akpro), Lulić (68' Fares); Correa (76' Pereira), Immobile (88' Muriqi). Subs: Alia, Strakosha; Hoedt, Musacchio, Patric; Parolo. Coach: S. Inzaghi.
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): G. Donnarumma; Calabria (69' Dalot), Kjær (74' Romagnoli), Tomori, Hernández; Bennacer (70' Tonali), Kessie; Saelemaekers (63' Díaz), Çalhanoğlu, Rebić; Mandžukić (63' Leão). Subs: Tătărușanu; Gabbia, Kalulu; Castillejo, Hauge, Krunić, Meïte. Coach: Pioli.
Referee: Orsato from Schio.
Goals: 2' e 51' Correa (L), 87' Immobile (L).
Booked: 19' Acerbi (L), 57' Milinković-Savić (L).
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