LAZIO v AC MILAN: KEYS TO THE MATCH

Stefano Pioli's AC Milan are approaching fixture number 19 in Serie A with the aim of getting back on their feet and ending the first half of the season on a high note. The Rossoneri's opponents are Maurizio Sarri's Lazio, on 34 points, who have regained condition and enthusiasm in recent outings and want to bring AC Milan (38) closer to the top of the table. With our briefing, we try to decipher the possible solutions of the league fixture scheduled for Tuesday 24 January at 20:45 CET.

SPIRIT AND UNITY
The start of 2023 proved more complicated than expected for both teams. On the one hand, the Rossoneri are yet to find their first clean sheet of the new year and, after the away win at the resumption of the league against Salernitana, they ran into a series of disappointing results. On the other hand, the defeat in Lecce and the comeback draw against Empoli seemed to knock the confidence of Sarri's team, which has instead found solidity and an unbeaten goal in the last two outings in Serie A and the Coppa Italia. In front of Tătărușanu, Kalulu and Tomori are called upon to regain confidence, in order to hunt for the first clean sheet since the draw in Cremona at the beginning of November (0-0). Aggressiveness and correct timing to block the opponent's attacking advances will be essential elements for the two pairs of centre-backs. For the Rossoneri, regaining confidence and cohesion will have to be the number one objective in order to come out of the trip to Rome with the three points and extend the lead over the Biancocelesti in the standings.

RESOURCES OUT WIDE
Theo Hernández and Rafael Leão up against Lazzari and Pedro, all on one lane. Sprinters against sprinters, but not just that. Lazio and AC Milan's two full-backs have acceleration as an important weapon at their disposal, and they exploit breakaways and progressions on the ball with the aim of keeping their opponents down and disrupting the organisation of the rival defensive line. The resourcefulness and pace of Leão and Pedro, on the other hand, will be decisive in creating chances, exploiting in particular quick exchanges and combinations with attackers and wingers. The Spaniard is also used to frequently switching positions with Felipe Anderson - in Immobile's absence - in the role of false nine. In addition to all this, the overlaps of the full-backs and the attacking movements on the other side of the pitch will also be a factor in favour of both sides, in order to advance with regularity and find alternative solutions in an attempt to surprise the opposing lines.

SUPPORTING MIDFIELD
Milinković-Savić and Luis Alberto are the most quality players in the home midfield trio, completed by Cataldi. Players endowed with elegance but also physicality, who prefer to build with few touches and keeping the ball on the ground, by passing or with individual attempts from the edge of the box. The Rossoneri's midfield has similar characteristics but is open to a more direct search for depth, even with high options behind the rival rearguard, a play that Tonali and Bennacer have in their ropes. To counter the Biancocelesti's incursions, Pioli could consider starting Pobega, switching to a 4-3-3 or exploiting his characteristics in behind the striker. In addition to the Italian, the Rossoneri coach should also recover Rade Krunić, a valid alternative in the role of an atypical but highly functional trequartista: valuable and proactive in attack. If not, it will be up to Brahim Díaz or De Ketelaere to provide cover and the necessary support for the Rossoneri's centre-backs. 

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