Maurizio Sarri has not been able to prepare for Lazio’s home game against AC Milan with much peace, due to various issues.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) report this morning, Sarri must ‘reinvent’ Lazio’s line-up once again because of the injury issues. Compared to the team initially fielded against Sassuolo, two more notable absences are expected.
Lazio facing ’emergency’
The first is Cataldi, who was sidelined in the first half on Monday with a minor calf injury (he will return after the break), while Romagnoli is almost certainly miss the game too. Final assessments are underway for the former Milan centre-back, but the calf discomfort is not promising.
Provstgaard is therefore ready to play in the centre of the defence alongside Gila. Patric is expected to start as a deep-lying playmaker, where Rovella’s injury (shoulder surgery, like goalkeeper Provedel) has already weighed heavily, as he did in the second half of the match against Sassuolo.
This represents an unusual solution with a defender in the heart of things. Taylor was also tested as an alternative, with Belahyane being brought in as a mezzala. Sarri was hoping for Basic’s recovery to at least have a creative midfielder, but he still has the tendon inflammation he start with two months ago.
In a Stadio Olimpico expected to seat 50,000 (the Lazio fans’ protests has been put onhold), Daniel Maldini – the great Milan player – is a key candidate to start up front. It is a family affair for the Italian, in the spirit of his grandfather Cesare and father Paolo.
This will be his fifth game as an opponent against the Rossoneri, having enjoyed a win in 2024 for Monza and a goal in 2022 for Spezia. On Monday, he scored his first goal for the Biancocelesti, and Sarri will use him down the middle.
Lazio is the least of our worries. We still have the likes of Cagliari, Sassuolo, Torino, Verona and Genoa to play. Nobody seems to be focusing on our Achille’s heal this season.
Instead, lazy story lines about Lazio being decisive again.
of course Lazio is decisive, because its the next game. and every next game is decisive