TOP‑FOUR FINISH ALIVE AND KICKING AFTER BEATING LAZIO
Serie A
Dazzling, dashing, dominant. AC Milan looked back to their best as their cruised past Lazio with a 2-0 win off the back of a brilliant performance. First-half goals from Bennacer and Hernández - with a coast-to-coast effort reminiscent of his goal of the season against Atalanta last year - won the day for the hosts. The Rossoneri never looked in trouble today and imposed themselves on the game, forcing second-place Lazio to chase the ball for the full 90 minutes. After two poor results against Roma and Cremonese, AC Milan move back into the top four for now and laid down a clear marker: AC Milan are up for the race.
There were some stunning individual performances today but it was the collective effort that made the difference today. They were compact, helped other and had the desire to get the win. The only negative from an otherwise overwhelmingly positive afternoon was the injury to Leão, who came off in the eleventh minute. The team reacted well to this early setback, though, and this is good news ahead of the first leg of our Champions League semi-final against Inter on Wednesday.
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MATCH REPORT
The first chance of the game came after eight minutes: Bennacer won the ball in the middle of the park, Giroud set Leão off down the left, who skipped past Casale but knocked the ball too far in front allowing Provedel to rush out and block his effort. But that sprint away by Rafa cost him an injury and he was forced off after 11 minutes to be replaced by Saelemaekers. Again down the left-hand side, Theo crossed in for Oli, whose swivelling shot went just over. But the goal came a few moments later: Bennacer pressed the Biancoceleste backline again in their own box winning the ball from Marcos Antônio; Giroud picked up the loose ball, laid it off to Isma who struck home with his left to give the Rossoneri the advantage. The lead was soon doubled by a full-length pitch drive forward by Theo - similar to the one last May against Atalanta - who once on the edge of the box hit a left-footed strike into the top corner to make it 2-0, and receive a standing ovation from the San Siro faithful. On the stroke of half-time, Saelemaekers cut back onto his right foot and got a curling shot away from the 18-yard box, but it took a deflection and went behind for a corner, that eventually came to nothing.
Two changes were made from the home side at the break: Kalulu and Thiaw coming on for Calabria and Kjær. The first effort of the half came immediately from AC Milan as Bennacer’s shot from the edge of the box went just over. The pattern of the game rarely changed with possession firmly being controlled by the Rossoneri; Isma tried his luck on the volley, but found Marcos Antônio in the way, before Messias failed to hit the target from Tonali’s cross in after 56 minutes. We went close again after 65 minutes when Tonali’s corner was headed inches over by Thiaw. Ante Rebić thought he had grabbed the third goal, but Rapuano ruled it out for offside on 83 minutes. Lazio kept plugging away and had chances through Pellegrini and Romagnoli late on, but the hosts controlled proceedings until the final whistle without ever being in serious danger. It ended 2-0.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 2-0 LAZIO
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria (46' Kalulu), Kjær (46' Thiaw), Tomori, Hernández (80' Ballo-Touré); Tonali, Krunić; Messias, Bennacer, Leão (11' Saelemaekers); Giroud (69' Rebić). Subs.: Mirante, Tătăruşanu; Gabbia; Adli, Bakayoko, Díaz, Pobega, Vranckx; De Ketelaere, Origi. Coach: Pioli.
LAZIO (4-3-3): Provedel; Marusić (56' Lazzari), Casale, Romagnoli, Hysaj (68' Pellegrini); Milinković-Savić (68' Basić), Marcos Antônio, Luis Alberto; Felipe Anderson, Immobile (81' Cancellieri), Zaccagni (56' Pedro). Subs.: Adamonis, Maximiano; Fares, Gila, Patric, Radu; Bertini; Romero. Coach: Sarri.
Referee: Rapuano from Rimini.
Goals: 18' Bennacer (M), 29' Hernández (M).
Booked: 20' Romagnoli (L),25' Marušić (L), 42' Calabria (M), 60' Casale (L), 88' Pellegrini (L), 89' Thiaw (M).
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