AC Milan easily dealt with Lazio on Saturday afternoon. Stefano Pioli’s team was 2-0 too strong at home for the Romans – who did not even manage to shoot on goal – and therefore seems ready for the semi-finals in the Champions League against Internazionale next Wednesday. A blemish on the otherwise rather carefree afternoon for Milan was Rafael Leão’s groin injury after twelve minutes. It is unclear whether he can make it to the duel with Inter. Ismaël Bennacer and Theo Hernández were the goalscorers in San Siro. I Rossoneri temporarily take over fourth place in Serie A from Inter.
Pioli started with the usual names after he changed his line-up in last Wednesday’s home game with Cremonese (1-1). Olivier Giroud, Hernández and Leão therefore returned to the base. Fikayo Tomori was also kicking off again after he had to serve a suspension. Tommaso Pobega, Alessandro Florenzi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were still in the stands due to an injury.
Milan ahead! ??
A big mistake in the build-up that makes it easy for Giroud to pass on Bennacer! ??#ZiggoSport #SerieA #MilanLazio pic.twitter.com/62AKJeygbz— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) May 6, 2023
The home game could hardly have started worse for Milan. Leão had to stop the fight after twelve minutes due to a groin injury. The Portuguese attacker was injured after a passing movement in the Lazio penalty area and was treated on the sidelines. Leão then decided to try again, but had to stop the fight less than thirty seconds later. It meant very bad news for Pioli and his team, who face Inter in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.
Leão was replaced by Alexis Saelemaekers. Five minutes later, Bennacer scored the opening goal. The Algerian midfielder put high pressure on Marcos Antônio and captured the ball, which ended up with Giroud. The Frenchman put back on Bennacer in one go, who then shot behind Ivan Provedel with a bounce: 1-0. It was only the Algerian’s second league goal this season.
And also the 2-0 is a fact! ??
After a rush from their own half, Theo Hernández scores with a little luck ??Over and out already? ??#Ziggosport #SerieA #MilanLazio pic.twitter.com/S9HLXW4uaB
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) May 6, 2023
Not much later, Hernández also came on the scoreboard. The Frenchman came up from the left flank and remained strong on the ball. It was Giroud who drew a gap for Hernández, allowing the latter to take a swing and then see his ball beautifully end up in the net: 2-0. In the first half, Lazio failed to even get a shot on goal. Maignan also did not have to take action in the second company. Ante Rebic thought he would make it 3-0 more than ten minutes before the end, but he saw his goal disallowed for offside.
| No. | Team | m | W | G | v | +/- | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naples | 33 | 25 | 5 | 3 | 46 | 80 |
| 2 | Lazio | 34 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 26 | 64 |
| 3 | Juventus | 33 | 19 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 63 |
| 4 | AC Milan | 34 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 16 | 61 |
| 5 | Internazionale | 33 | 19 | 3 | 11 | 25 | 60 |
| 6 | Atlanta | 33 | 17 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 58 |
| 7 | AS Roma | 33 | 17 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 58 |
| 8 | Florence | 33 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 46 |
| 9 | bologna | 33 | 12 | 9 | 12 | -1 | 45 |
| 10 | Monza | 33 | 12 | 9 | 12 | -3 | 45 |
| 11 | Torino | 33 | 12 | 9 | 12 | -3 | 45 |
| 12 | Udinese | 33 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 43 |
| 13 | Sassuolo | 33 | 12 | 7 | 14 | -9 | 43 |
| 14 | Salernitana | 33 | 7 | 14 | 12 | -13 | 35 |
| 15 | Empoli | 33 | 8 | 11 | 14 | -14 | 35 |
| 16 | Lecce | 33 | 7 | 10 | 16 | -12 | 31 |
| 17 | Spezia | 33 | 5 | 12 | 16 | -26 | 27 |
| 18 | Hellas Verona | 33 | 6 | 9 | 18 | -24 | 27 |
| 19 | Cremonese | 33 | 3 | 12 | 18 | -30 | 21 |
| 20 | Sampdoria | 33 | 3 | 8 | 22 | -39 | 17 |