The Coppa Italia Round of 16 heats up as Lazio prepares to host AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome tonight. Following their recent Serie A encounter that saw Milan edge out a narrow 1-0 victory at San Siro amid some on-field controversies, fans are eagerly anticipating another intense battle between these two Italian giants.
Match Details:
- Date & Time: Tonight at 21:00 CET (20:00 GMT)
- Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
- Broadcast: Premier Sports 1 (UK and Ireland), Paramount+ (USA). Live updates available via Football Italia’s LIVEBLOG.
Probable Line-ups:
Lazio (4-3-3) under Maurizio Sarri will look to maintain a consistent squad, with minimal changes from their recent outing:
- Goalkeeper: Christos Mandas is expected to start, replacing the usual first-choice keeper.
- Defense: Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, and returning left-back Nuno Tavares.
- Midfield: Guendouzi, Vecino, and Basic form the engine room.
- Attack: The frontline features Isaksen, Dia, and Zaccagni, who impressed last time out.
Milan (3-5-1-1), led by coach Massimiliano Allegri, will largely field a similar squad that secured their Serie A victory, with few tactical tweaks:
- Goalkeeper: Maignan continues in goal.
- Defense: Tomori, De Winter (replacing rested Matteo Gabbia), and Pavlovic fortify the backline.
- Midfield: Saelemaekers, Ricci, Jashari (making his first start for Milan), Rabiot, and Estupinan operate across the pitch.
- Attacking Midfield: Ruben Loftus-Cheek replaces Christopher Nkunku in a more advanced role.
- Forward: Rafael Leao spearheads the attack once again.
Key Players to Watch:
- Milan’s Rafael Leao remains the focal point of the Rossoneri’s offensive efforts.
- Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s introduction in the attacking midfield role adds a fresh dynamic to Milan’s setup.
- Lazio’s creativity will hinge on Zaccagni and the trio up front, aiming to capitalize on home advantage.
With both teams showing tactical resilience and quality in recent matches, this Coppa Italia fixture promises a thrilling encounter. Fans worldwide can look forward to a tightly-contested clash as Lazio strives to overturn their recent defeat and Milan aims to assert dominance in the knockout stage.
Make sure to tune in to the highlighted broadcasts and enjoy what promises to be an exciting night of Italian football!
