AC Milan are taking on Lazio away from home this evening and after two games without a win, the Rossoneri must bounce back with a strong performance. According to a report, Paulo Fonseca has decided to make a statement with the starting XI.
It has been a tough start to the season for Milan and as the transfer window closed at midnight, there is no turning back for them. Now, it’s up to Fonseca to get his team in order and collect some points, starting tonight as Lazio are up at Stadio Olimpico.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport (see photo below), Fonseca has decided to make a statement with his XI as the likes of Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao will be on the bench. Both were heavily criticised last time out, especially the left-back.
Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson, Tomori, Pavlovic, Terracciano; Reijnders, Fofana; Chukwueze, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic; Okafor.
Predicted Lazio XI (4-3-3): Provedel; Marusic, Patric, Romagnoli, Tavares; Guendouzi, Rovella; Tchaouna, Dia, Zaccagni; Castellanos.
The game is scheduled for 20:45 CEST and as said, this is truly a must-win for Milan as heading into the international break without a win would be devastating. Having said that, Lazio away has never been an easy fixture for the Rossoneri.
Fonseca’s Decision: A Statement or a Desperate Move?
Fonseca's decision to bench Leao and Hernandez has sparked a debate among Milan fans. Some believe it is a necessary step to send a message to the players and to instill discipline. Others argue that it is a desperate move that could backfire, as both players are key to Milan's attacking threat.
“This sends a message to the team. No player above the club. Pioli never did that – play fine, play like s]-[!t – doesn’t matter, you can start again.”
“I will respect him a lot more for it if he actually fields players based on merit because let’s be honest – both were awful last two games.”
“This is the move typical of a dead man walking. Reeks desperation. Thinks he is smart, but he is not.”
“Already losing the dressing room and this won’t help.”
It remains to be seen whether Fonseca's decision will have the desired effect. However, there is no doubt that it is a bold move that will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike.
The Stakes Are High for Both Sides
Lazio are also a team in flux under a new coach, beating Venezia in the opener only to lose away to Udinese. Marco Baroni has made big changes, including ex-Salernitana pair Loum Tchaouna and Boulaye Dia stepping in, plus the first start for former Arsenal full-back Nuno Tavares. They will be looking to bounce back from their recent defeat and will be eager to get a win against a struggling Milan side.
The Venue and Key Absences
The venue for this match between Lazio and Milan will be the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, home of Roma and Lazio. It is a soccer stadium located in the capital of Italy and is one of the largest in the country. It has a capacity to accommodate a little more than 72 thousand spectators.
For this match, the capital team will have two absentees:
- Luca Pellegrini (leg injury)
- Mario Gila (thigh problems)
On the other hand, Milan will also have two absences and they are:
- Alvaro Morato (muscle injury)
- M. Sportiello (ligament injury)
Head-to-Head
Lazio and Milan's head-to-head record is quite extensive and the balance is in favor of the Rossoneri with 84 wins to Bologna's 39 victories. There are also only 65 draws.
The Match Preview
Lazio face AC Milan in a pivotal Matchday 3 showdown of the 2024/2025 Serie A season. This highly anticipated clash promises to be a thriller, and we’ve got all the details you need to catch every moment. From TV broadcast info to streaming options, find out how to watch the action live in your country and stay up to date with all the key highlights.
Where to Watch Lazio vs AC Milan Live
The match will be broadcast on television by Fox Sports and fuboTV.
The Lazio vs Milan can be tuned in from live streams by Paramount+.
International Viewing
Fans in the UK and Ireland can watch it on TNT Sports 1 or OneFootball. beIN SPORTS 1 and streaming service beIN SPORTS CONNECT broadcast the Olimpico showdown live in Australia and New Zealand. The game is on Paramount+ in the USA.
How to Watch Online
If you want to follow the result of the match live online, VAVEL USA is your best option.
Team News and Starting Lineups
Here is the predicted starting lineup for Lazio:
- Provedel, Marusic, Casale, M. Lazzari, A. Romagnoli, M. Guendouzi, M. Vecino, F. Dele-Bashiru, M. Zaccagni, T. Noslin, V. Castellanos
Here is the predicted starting lineup for AC Milan:
- Maignan, Calabria, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez, Musah, Reijnders, Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao, Okafor.
The Referee
The central referee for this Lazio vs Milan match will be Davide Massa; Filippo Meli, first line; Stefano Alassio, second line; Francesco Fourneu, fourth assistant.
The Importance of a Win for Both Sides
Lazio, led by Italian coach Marco Baroni, is beginning a campaign aimed at returning to the top of Serie A once again. The Eagles spent the last 2023-24 Italian league season without glory and failed to win any of the tournaments they played and had to settle for seventh place in the standings in order to play in the Euro League this season. Lazio played a preseason of 6 friendly matches, where they were able to record 4 wins and 2 draws so they arrived to Serie A 2024-25 with an undefeated streak that ended a few days ago. On matchday 1 they started off on the right foot with a 3-1 victory over newly promoted Venezia, however, last Saturday, the unbeaten streak ended against Udinese by a score of 2-1 in away condition where they could not take advantage of the extra man they had on the field since the 68th minute, thus acquiring their first defeat of the season. Lazio arrives at this matchday in eighth place in the overall standings.
On the other hand, Milan, coached by Paulo Fonseca, is one of Italy's historic teams, but season after season it has lost prominence in the Italian league. After their last Serie A championship, won in the 2021-22 season, the Rossoneri have not been able to replicate a championship either in their local league or in the Champions League. Now, in their Italian league, Milan have a new opportunity to return to the limelight and, unlike today's opponent, the Milanese side had only four pre-season games where they recorded 2 wins and 2 draws. Milan entered their Serie A debut with a two-goal draw against Torino, only to lose their five-game unbeaten run on matchday 2 of Serie A in a surprise 2-1 defeat against Parma. The Rossoneri are currently in 14th place with one point and will be looking for their first three points of the season in this match.
The Match
The last date before entering the FIFA date of September, begins this weekend in all soccer leagues in the world. Today we continue with the soccer activity with initial matches in this third match of Serie A that will play several teams in the Italian league, two of them will be Lazio facing Milan. On this midday Saturday, we will have a very striking match where the Olympic Stadium in Rome, will witness this confrontation between the capital and the Milanese.Both teams will want to maintain a good level of soccer in this start of European competitions and thus be able to get the most points in this start of the Serie A season. Will the locals be able to achieve victory or will the visitors do it in this matchday 3? Or will this match end in a draw? Find out on VAVEl USA.
The match between Lazio and Milan will be played at the Stadio Olimpico, in the city of Rome, Italy. Kick-off is scheduled for 2:45 pm (CDMX).
Good afternoon to all VAVEL readers! Welcome to the live coverage of the match between Lazio and Milan, corresponding to matchday 3 of Serie A. Follow all of our coverage on VAVEL USA and don't miss any details of this match.
