AC Milan tackle Lazio in their first game of the Serie A season at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Sunday, 1800 local time, and after their lacklustre pre-season and the departure of Mario Balotelli, all eyes will be on Fillppo Inzaghi and his men at the San Siro.
Despite not strengthening their squad as much as they would have liked, Lazio should consider themselves a good chance at upsetting an unsettled Milan.
Milan have lost their past four matches in pre-season, condign 12 goals and scoring just two, and will Balotelli exiting the club with less than a week to go until the start of the season, their preparations have been thrown into disarray.
Meanwhile, Lazio come into the match as the form team, having lost only two pre-season friendlies and smashing seven goals past Bassano Virtus in the Coppa Italia on Sunday.
Lazio have a poor record at the San Siro, with only one win in their past seven visits. The two teams have met 45 times, with Milan winning 20 of those meetings. There have also been 19 draws and a mere six wins to Lazio.
With the departure of Balotelli, Stephan El Shaarawy and Giampaolo Pazzini are expected to start up front. Could the departure of the enigmatic striker mean a renaissance for El Shaarawy?
Captain Ricardo Montolivo remains on the sidelines through injury, meaning youngster Bryan Cristante could start in his absence. If not, veteran midfielders Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari are both options. Mattia De Sciglio and Philippe Mexes are both suspended.
Stefano Pioli has a solid looking squad to choose from for the trip to Milan, with goalkeeper Etrit Berisha to continue in Federico Marchetti’s absence, and new signing Stefan de Vrij to headline the defence.
Milan – Lopez; Abate, Alex, Rami, Armero; Cristante, De Jong, Poli; El Shaarawy, Pazzini, Menez.
Lazio – Berisha, Basta, de Vrij, Cana, Radu; Lulic, Ledesma, Parolo; Candreva, Klose, Keita
