LAZIO v AC MILAN: DUELS

Next up, it’s Lazio v AC Milan, with things now really heating up in the final straight. A lot is at stake at the Olimpico, where the Rossoneri are almost obligated to win if they want to keep their Scudetto hopes alive. And in order to do so, in addition to a great team performance, there will have to be some fantastic individual displays. Here are the main duels that we’re likely to see:

CIRO IMMOBILE v OLIVIER GIROUD
Internationally renowned strikers who are experts in their roles. Giroud hasn’t scored since he netted the winner in Naples, but he’ll be encouraged by the fact that he bagged a brace when the Rossoneri met Lazio in the Coppa Italia at San Siro. Olivier has scored some vitally important and decisive goals, and the upcoming showdown at the Olimpico has a similar feeling to the matches against Inter and Napoli. He continues to make the most of his physical prowess and has been a constant starter since February (13 successive matches). Immobile, meanwhile, is the top scorer in Serie A and on the hunt for new records. Quite simply, he’s a goal machine: he’s found the net 25 times this season and scored four of the Biancocelesti’s last five goals. He inspired the team in Genoa and rescued a point against Torino last time out. In total, he’s bagged six times against AC Milan.

SERGEJ MILINKOVIĆ-SAVIĆ v SANDRO TONALI
These two have been pitted together not so much because of their characteristics but due to the fact they’re both important figures in the two teams’ respective midfields. Tonali and Milinković-Savić are the players who have made the most passes in the opposition half of the pitch (663 for Sandro, 1127 for the Serb) and committed the most fouls (39 compared to 50) for AC Milan and Lazio, respectively. The Italian is about to surpass 40 appearances for the season and always seeks to control the midfield area, usually alongside one of Bennacer or Kessie. As for Milinković-Savić, with his height and technique, he’s the player that makes the Biancocelesti tick. For the first time, he’s reached a tally of ten assists in a single Serie A season (only Berardi with eleven has more), but the Rossoneri are the only side he’s faced more than six times in the league without finding the net (zero in twelve fixtures).

FELIPE ANDERSON v RAFAEL LEÃO
Playing in slightly different formations and positions, they’re two players who Pioli and Sarri very much like to rely on. It’s no coincidence that Felipe Anderson has been involved in all 33 of Lazio’s Serie A matches so far. He’s faced AC Milan seven times in the league but has never scored, provided an assist or even won a match against the Rossoneri. Leão, meanwhile, is the Diavolo’s top scorer with nine and, after netting against Genoa, could score for two successive matches in the Italian top flight for the first time since September, when his second goal came against Lazio. Rafa knows how to inflict damage on the Biancocelesti, as proven by his performances in the reverse fixture and Coppa Italia. Both are fast, unpredictable and full of running and imagination out on the wing. They’re the leading figures in their teams for attempted dribbles (138 for the Portuguese, 96 for the Brazilian) and are more than capable of playing the decisive final ball or finding the net.

LUIZ FELIPE v PIERRE KALULU
They’re quietly going about their business in impressive fashion, constantly producing high-quality performances. In the media, they’re often portrayed as the partners of the more experienced Acerbi and Tomori, but these youngsters are growing by the day. Out of the 15 defenders who have made at least 80 recoveries in Serie A since the start of 2022, only Chiriches (923 minutes, 83 recoveries) has done better than Pierre Kalulu (991 minutes, 81). A true professional and precious resource, Pierre is set to make his eighth consecutive appearance. As for Luiz Felipe, he has impressive figures when it comes to passes in his own half (1228), clearances (94) and shots blocked (33). AC Milan and Lazio have kept the most clean sheets since the start of the second half of the league season, and this is also down to these two.

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