Fonseca in search of maiden win as Milan visits Lazio.
Lazio vs
Milan
In a clash of ambitions and redemption, Lazio seeks to overturn recent misfortunes against a similarly unsettled AC Milan, as both teams aim to navigate through their early-season challenges at Stadio Olimpico.
Lazio
Lazio experienced a setback with a 2-1 loss to Udinese in their previous match. After a promising start to the season with a win over Venezia, they quickly stumbled against Udinese, conceding a goal in the first five minutes.
Despite Udinese being reduced to 10 men in the second half, Lazio only managed a late goal from Gustav Isaksen in stoppage time. This defeat ended their impressive eight-match unbeaten streak, presenting a challenge for new head coach Marco Baroni, who will aim for a turnaround against Milan this weekend.
However, recent encounters against Milan have been tough, with Lazio losing their last three Serie A matches against the Rossoneri without scoring. While Baroni might consider a draw acceptable, it's notable that these teams haven't drawn in Serie A since November 2018.
Lazio is expected to field a 4-3-3 formation against Milan, with Valentín Castellanos leading the attack, supported by Mattia Zaccagni and Tijjani Noslin. Unfortunately, both Luca Pellegrini and Mario Gila are sidelined for the match.
Milan
AC Milan’s shaky start to the season under new coach Paulo Fonseca has surprised many, despite several commendable additions. The Rossoneri are coming off a shocking 2-1 loss to newly promoted Parma. While the result raised eyebrows, it was the manner of the defeat that was more worrying.
Milan were defensively exposed, allowing Parma several clear-cut chances which they failed to convert. It was the first time since 2011 that Milan failed to win their first two league matches, leaving Fonseca questioning his defensive line in a post-match interview.
Nevertheless, an impressive record against the home side will leave Milan confident of securing at least a point on Saturday, having won five of their last six matches against Lazio. Additionally, a win here would mean back-to-back away victories over Lazio following a 1-0 win in March.
Already in the spotlight due to Milan’s poor start, failure to secure three points before the international break will put Fonseca under immense pressure. On Saturday, the 51-year-old manager is expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation with Luka Jović leading the attack. Álvaro Morata remains sidelined until mid-September with a muscle injury.
