Lazio 2-2 AC Milan: Questions, answers, doubts as the Rossoneri remain winless

AC Milan were held to a 2-2 draw against Lazio on Saturday night, and the Rossoneri are now without a win in their opening three games, extending a worrying start to the season. 

Milan took the lead in the first half through Strahinja Pavlovic, after some heroics in the Rossoneri box minutes prior. However, the goal quickly faded in importance as Lazio scored twice in four minutes to put the game on its head.

Rafael Leao would eventually be the saviour for the Diavolo, working with Tammy Abraham and Theo Hernandez to create an impact, but the side could not further capitalise with 20 minutes to spare.

It means the Rossoneri have now failed to win their opening three matches of the 2024/25 Serie A season, and doubts are quickly growing about whether the season can be a successful one.

Leading up to the clash, reports had suggested there was a lot on the line for Paulo Fonseca, and the Portuguese manager seeming took this in his stride, using the game to make a statement that he is prepared to take risks.

Reports had suggested that Fonseca was preparing to drop Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez from the starting lineup – much to the shock of Milanistas. However, the manager stated before the match ‘both players understood‘ the decision, and it was done with the best intentions of the team in mind.

Lazio had the first major chance of the game. After breaking down the left, Dia linked up nicely with Castellanos before receiving the ball back in the area. Mike Maignan tried charging for the ball but missed with the striker looping the ball over the Frenchman, but Strahinja Pavlovic was there to stop the ball from crossing the line. Certainly an early wake-up call. Pavlovic, heroic at one end, and that would quickly change.

After the Rossoneri had soaked up some of the opening Aquile pressure, Milan earned themselves a corner which Christian Pulisic was eager to take. With a delightful inswinging corner, Pavlovic lost his marker, rose above the challengers and found the back of the net with a bullet header to open the Diavolo’s account on the evening. Additionally, opening his account with the club in the process, after arriving in the summer.

The next best chance fell to the Rossoneri again, with the side growing as the game progressed. Samuel Chukwueze broke down the wing and attempted to deliver a cross. Whilst it fell to Patric, the ball fell to Youssouf Fofana who was happy to take the chance on, but his volley fired past the post.

A chance of similar quality did not come until the end of the half and again, it was in Milan’s favour. From Maignan to Okafor, the Rossoneri progressed down the pitch quickly, building from the back before finding the Swissman running down the channel. Following this, he slid in Pulisic, who played the ball into the corridor of uncertainty, but the cross did not connect with the flailing leg of Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

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The second half began much like the first, with Lazio creating the first real chance. Filippo Terracciano left Isaksen unmarked and the Swede progressed down the flank before attempting a cross, but no one in a sky-blue shirt could meet it in the box.

Whilst not really a huge sign of danger, the ease with which Lazio progressed down the right side is another example of the January signing looking uncomfortable – or out of position. Of course, it is to be expected to some degree, but against, with respect, better wingers, it could be a glaring area of weakness.

Lazio’s next attack came just minutes later, again down the same side, again with Terracciano failing to pick up Isaksen. A bit of football pinball ensued, with the Rossoneri failing to clear their lines, and again Milan failed to clear their lines, but it resulted in nothing, at least in the defensive phase.

The Diavolo quickly found Okafor – who looked to be the point of attack throughout the game – and the Swissman charged forward and broke into the box, but he fell easily against the challenge of the opposition defender. Perhaps, it can be argued that the striker should have taken a shot, but on this occasion, he tried doing a little too much.

Minutes later Milan attempted to get some ‘Fonseca-ball’ flowing, as they looked to build from the back through numerous quick, neat passes around the box. At first, they were doing so successfully, but Lazio quickly gained possession, but they could do no danger with it.

From one end to the other, the Rossoneri quickly broke away, again, and Samuel Chukwueze was found sprinting down the wing. He found Tijjani Reijnders in the box, but the Dutchman fired over, likely due to the ball bobbling on the poor Olimpico surface – a regular occurrence during the evening for sure.

The other regular occurrence of the evening was the consistent back and forth, and Lazio would eventually get a reward for their participation in the game. Poor defending from Milan allowed the Aquile to move down the left flank and once again Dia and Castellanos combined with the Argentinian striker putting the ball past a flailing Maignan.

It very quickly became a case of the Rossoneri being the participating outfit. Again, Lazio raced down the left-hand side and into the box, and after his heroics in the first half, Pavlovic allowed Dia to break loose, and the forward easily tapped the ball home.

Shortly after the goal, Fonseca opted to look to the bench – Chukwueze, Okafor, Emerson Royal and Reijnders made way for Theo, Leao, Yunus Musah and debutant Tammy Abraham.

Whether the Portuguese coach imagined his choices would have an impact immediately is unknown, but they did. Abraham knocked the ball down with a classic piece of ‘hold-up’ striker play, Theo sprinted into the box and found the Englishman who then found Leao, and he only had one idea in mind. An equaliser, a message, perhaps.

The remaining 20 minutes were filled with a few back-and-forth exchanges, and there was almost a fairytale ending, or beginning as Tammy Abraham broke free from his marker and was found in the box, but the Englishman could not convert.

It is yet another game where Milan have conceded twice, looked unconvincing for large parts, looked vulnerable on the wings, and ultimately, another game where they have lost points. Starting the Serie A season with two points is woeful, especially with the goals that have been set for the squad.

At points, it seemed that Fonseca’s experiment with Leao and Theo on the bench was going to reap rewards, but if a message was sent by the Portuguese coach, his compatriot answered. Now, fans will be left asking what if the star had started the game…