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Italy: Serie A Preview- AC Milan v Lazio [Wed Sep 21st, 2005]
Roman side Lazio make their way north for a huge clash against AC Milan at the San Siro.
BACKGROUND
Depending on whom you hear it from, Milan may or may not be in a bad way at the moment. On one hand, you have the press and anyone who supports another club. According to these outside parties, the roof is caving in on the Rossoneri, and pretty soon it will fall completely, crushing everything and everyone beneath it.
The defence is certainly the oldest of any top-flight squad in Europe, with the first-choice backline being (in order of seniority): captain Paolo Maldini, Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta and Marcos Cafu, who together average thirty-three years of age.
This school of thought also states the midfield is not in top form, with Clarence Seedorf, Gennaro Gattuso and (more recently) Andrea Pirlo not playing up to par. New-signing Alberto Gilardino had not scored his first official goal for Milan until this past Sunday, and even then it could have been disallowed for offside.
Milan’s goalkeeper, Nelson Dida, has received negative statements ever since the loss in the Champions League final last season, but he still remains one of the greatest shot-stoppers in the world.
The only two usual first-choice players not being criticized, at least not yet, are Andriy Shevchenko and Kaka. ‘Sheva’ has scored in two of the three matches played in the Serie A so far, both of those goals being shots from outside the box.
Then, we get to the brilliant Kaka. His exploits against Fenerbahçe in the Champions League last week had many comparing him to Maradona. He scored twice, dodging three tackles on the way to scoring the match-winner in the 87th minute.
Truth be told, Milan does have an old defence and the midfield are not playing as well as possible, but this is still one of the best sides in Europe. In the Fifpro award ceremony (votes are cast by players) which just took place, five Rossoneri were honored in the first XI: Dida, Cafu, Nesta, Maldini and Shevchenko.
So, while the supposed experts knock them down, the real people in the know, the players, build the roof up even higher than it was before.
Lazio are currently in very good form. The Biancocelesti are second in the standings, having taken seven points from their three opening fixtures. Their last match was a great show of attacking play, as they defeated Treviso 3-1 at home.
Paolo Di Canio in particular played well, assisting on the first two goals. In the 20th minute, he passed to Tommaso Rocchi, who held off a defender to shoot past Samir Handanovic in the Treviso goal. Six minutes later, he played in Goran Pandev, and he finished tidily by slotting it through the keeper’s legs.
The advantage was cut in half, but only by a perfectly-struck free kick from Treviso’s Pinga in the 44th minute. The third Lazio goal was a stroke of luck near the end, or poor refereeing. Tommaso Rocchi ran in one-on-one with the keeper, and, after touching it past, he dove.
The referee adjudged it to be a penalty, although replays showed that Handanovic had not even touched him. Handanovic was shown a red card, and with all three substitutions used, Francesco Galeoto had to stand between the posts. Massimo Oddo banged it into the right side of the net, with Galeoto obviously not knowing much about the position.
The clinching goal was not valid, but Lazio still deserved to win the match, having played well in moving forward.
TEAM NEWS
The lineup will be slightly different than that which ran onto the pitch at Sampdoria last Sunday. Paolo Maldini may be rested, with his thirty-seven year old knees needing a rest.
Lazio have more serious injury concerns. Goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi may not be fit in time, as he has a knee injury. Brazilian defender Cesar and Albanian striker Igli Tare are both unfit for the match, but Fabio Liverani may be able to play in this important match.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Clarence Seedorf (Milan)
This Dutch midfielder has something to prove, as he is no longer the usual starter on the left. He still has plenty of playing left in him, but he must put on a good show in this encounter if he wants to start in the Champions League match against Schalke 04 next Wednesday.
Paolo Di Canio (Lazio)
Despite his age (37), he was magnificent versus Treviso at the weekend. Two right-footed passes created the first two goals.
POSSIBLE STARTING XIs:
Milan (4-3-1-2):
Dida; Cafu, Nesta, Stam, Kaladze; Gattuso, Rui Costa, Seedorf; Kaka; Shevchenko, Gilardino
Lazio (4-4-2):
Sereni; Oddo, Siviglia, Stendardo, Zauri; Behrami, Firmani, Dabo, Pandev; Di Canio, Rocchi
Joel Whitehead
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