AC MILAN MAKE IT THREE WINS FROM THREE
Serie A
A win, a big performance and applause all around. AC Milan cruised past Sarri's Lazio in front of their home fans, who - once again - turned out in great numbers and certainly made themselves heard. The Rossoneri's tempo, pressure and fluid movement caused problems for the Biancocelesti from the outset right up until the final whistle. Goals from Leão and the returning Ibra capped off a win that was never really in doubt as the Rossoneri made it three wins from their first three Serie A games to maintain their perfect record.
San Siro was replete with adulation for the team, who approached the game with the correct mindset as they nullified Lazio's attacking threat and created chance after chance. The lead came on the verge of halftime through Rafa, before Kessie missed from the penalty spot deep into added time in the first half. That could have been the turning point for the guests but our boys were reinvigorated and came back from the break with the same attitude. It all went rather well, save for the injury to Bakayoko, whose game only lasted 13 minutes. Attentions now turn to the Champions League, to Liverpool and to Anfield; the Rossoneri are back in the big time on Wednesday and will need to be at their best.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v LAZIO
MATCH REPORT
AC Milan were well on top in the first half. The Rossoneri forced chances from the second minute when Romagnoli controlled Theo's freekick but underhit the shot. Leão picked out Tomori in the fourth minute, but he headed over. Lazio couldn't find a way out, AC Milan worked the ball around and, in the seventh minute, Hernández let fly, over the bar. AC Milan's widemen had acres of space and, in the 11th minute, Florenzi's shot - after being found by Rebić - was cut out by Lucas Leiva. A double chance fell to the Rossoneri: the first was for Calabria, whose effort was off target, and then Leão was picked out by Tonali at the back post by he sent his header wide. Sarri's Biancocelesti tried to up the ante and, in the 36th minute, Romagnoli did really well to deny Immobile in the box. The goal finally came at the end of the half; Leão started the move and finished it off, beating Leiva on the counter, playing a nice give-and-go with Rebić and coolly stroking it home. We weren't done there; Immobile brought Kessie down in the 49th minute: Chiffi on VAR awarded the penalty but Franck hit the crossbar.
The start of the second half largely saw a repeat of the first 45 minutes; Tonali found Rebić just two minutes in and the Croat laid it off to Díaz on the edge of the box, shot blocked. Pioli made a triple change: Ibra, Bakayoko and Saelemaekers on, and the Rossoneri set about getting a second. Rebić set off on the counter in the 67th minute and teed it up for Zlatan to tap it into an open net to make it 2-0. Ante looked for Ibra again in the 75th minute but it was cut out. The Rossoneri kept up the pressure; Saelemaekers played it to Zlatan, who fired over from close range. In the final, autopilot went on as the Rossoneri looked to see out the game and the result: 2-0 against Lazio, three out of three in the league and a perfect record.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 2-0 LAZIO
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Romagnoli, Tomori, Hernández; Tonali, Kessie (61' Bakayoko) (74' Bennacer); Florenzi (61' Saelemaekers), Díaz (80' Ballo-Touré), Leão (60' Ibrahimović); Rebić. Subs.: Jungdal, Tătărușanu; Gabbia, Kalulu, Kjær; Castillejo; Maldini, Pellegri. Coach: Pioli.
LAZIO (4-3-3): Reina; Marušić (64' Lazzari), Luiz Felipe, Acerbi, Hysaj; Milinković-Savić (74' Bašić), Lucas Leiva, Luis Alberto; Pedro (84' Moro), Immobile (84' Muriqi), Felipe Anderson (64' Zaccagni). Subs.: Adamonis, Strakosha; Patric, Radu, Vavro; Akpa Akpro, Cataldi, Escalante; Romero. Coach: Sarri.
Referee: Chiffi from Padova.
Goal: 45' Leão (M), 67' Ibrahimović (M).
Booked: 17' Marušić (L), 49' Reina (L), 50' Luis Alberto (L), 57' Hysaj (L).
Sent off: 94' Sarri (L).
Notes: 49' penalty missed, Kessie (M).
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