Prediction: AC Milan vs Lazio

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 3/4

Bookmaker: bet365

Facing an uphill task to realise their Champions League ambitions, AC Milan may have to shift their focus towards Coppa Italia, where they stand a decent chance of lifting the trophy. In-form Lazio side serve as the next hurdle on that path, with the Biancocelesti looking to get revenge for the Serie A defeat at San Siro few days ago.

AC Milan

The heavy investment in the playing squad has yet to pay off properly for AC Milan, who are not exactly performing to their potential. Following the dismal start to the season, the Rossoneri have been showing improvement of late, winning their last three Serie A fixtures to climb to seventh in the overall standings. Successive triumphs over Crotone, Cagliari and Lazio have helped the players restore the lost confidence and AC Milan now head into the Coppa Italia semi-finals in excellent spirits.

Weekend’s league victory over Lazio could prove to be very important as the Rossoneri managed to defeat a top side that had been in impressive form, but they now need to prove the worst is behind them. Talented youngster Patrick Cutrone has continued to prove his worth and he has so far deservedly been keeping summer recruits Andre Silva and Nikola Kalinic on the bench, although one of them could be recalled for the Coppa Italia clash. AC Milan did well to improve their home form of late, winning five of last six matches at Stadio San Siro, and they definitely have a reason for optimism ahead of the second visit of Lazio in last three days.

Team News

Nikola Kalinic is still not at 100% and is unlikely to start, whereas Daniele Conti and Marco Storari remain in the treatment room.

Lazio

Lazio have done really well since Simone Inzaghi took over the reigns at Stadio Olimpico even though many pundits had doubted his managerial credentials. The Biancocelesti have been in and around the Serie A top 4 in recent years, and they seem determined to finally secure their place in the Champions League group stages. Twenty two games into the new league campaign and Lazio occupy third place in the standings, five points clear of fifth-placed AS Roma, so it looks as though aforementioned defeat to AC Milan was not such a big setback.

Simone Inzaghi has clearly built a homogenous side that work really well together, even though the likes of Ciro Immobile, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto have been making the headlines with impressive attacking performances. Lazio’s three-match winning run came to an end at San Siro at the weekend as they were defeated by AC Milan, so this will be a good opportunity for the Biancocelesti to get their revenge. Given the importance of the match, the boss is unlikely to make wholesale changes to his side.

Team News

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Senad Lulic are set to start as they are suspended for the Genoa clash, while it remains to be seen whether star striker Ciro Immobile will return.

Key Factors to Consider

• Milan recorded 2-1 win over Lazio three days ago
• The Rossoneri won five of last eight home games vs Lazio (D2 L1)
• Both teams scored in five of their last six meetings
• AC Milan are on a three-match winning run
• Lazio scored 14 goals in last four Serie A games

Conclusion

Both sides have been in a really good form of late and they are eager to continue in the same manner. With five of their last six meetings seeing both teams getting on the scoresheet, we fully expect the trend to continue.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 3/4

Bookmaker: bet365