Lazio defeated AC Milan 3-1 at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday night.
The Biancocelesti were on the back foot early on in the game when Jeremy Menez opened the scoring, before Marco Parolo and Miroslav Klose both struck to make it 2-1. Parolo scored once again towards the end of the game to wrap up what was a comfortable win for the Biancocelesti..
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Lazio
Federico Marchetti – 6 – Composed
Finished the encounter with stitches on his head, but played really well for large parts of the game. Composed, comfortable, and a fighter on the pitch.
Dusan Basta – 7 – Machine
Really active down the right-hand side just like Candreva – in addition to providing adequate defensive recovery, preventing the Rossoneri from forming moves down his flank.
Stefan De Vrij – 6.5 – Aware
Formed a solid defensive partnership with Cana that involved nullifying the effect of substitute Giampaolo Pazzini, unlucky to go off with injury.
Lorik Cana – 6.5 – Powerful
As always, the Albanian international was a source of stability in the Biancocelesti defense as he dealt well with Milan’s brief attacking onslaught in the second half. However, lucky not to score an own goal in the second half with a rare lapse of concentration.
Stefan Radu – 6 – Focused
Just like Basta and Candreva, the Romanian international played a sizable role in nullifying the effect of Milan’s right-hand side.
Danilo Cataldi – 6.5 – Elegant
The youngster once again played an important role in Stefano Pioli’s setup – forming a compact midfield partnership with Candreva and Biglia, as well as drifting to the wings in order to help out his side’s offensive work.
Lucas Biglia – 6 – Rock
Not as visible as his other midfield partners, but played a really important role in Lazio’s midfield recovery following Milan’s opening goal.
Marco Parolo – 7.5 – Hero
The Italian international did everything on the night. Worked a lot, got himself into good positions even fluffed one or two chances to score in the first half, before eventually scoring twice.
Antonio Candreva – 7.5 – Metronome
Absolute menace down the right-hand side for the hosts, took on players in the final third, made dangerous deliveries into the box, and got himself in excellent positions.
Miroslav Klose – 7.5 – Ageless
Excellent role in holding up the ball before changing the direction of play; definitely displayed the main characteristics of a target man – threatening the Rossoneri on many occasions before grabbing an assist and the goal that made it 2-1.
Stefano Mauri – 6.5 – Clever
Picked up from where he left off against Roma with a solid performance, despite being the subject of heavy marking from the Rossoneri defence.
Substitutes
Mauricio – 6 – Untested
Came on in a very difficult time, but the new signing was fairly untested by the anonymous Milan offense.
Filip Djordjevic – N/A – Unfortunate
Immediately injured as soon as he came on, before being replaced by Keita Balde.
Keita Balde – N/A
AC Milan
Diego Lopez – 6 – Good
Not at fault for any of the three goals conceded, and saved Milan from losing their lead in the second half by denying Candreva’s one-on-one.
Ignazio Abate – 5 – Invisible
Pretty invisible in Milan’s attacking endeavours down the right-hand side, and similar to Armero he succumbed under pressure from the Aquile’s attacking onslaught.
Philippe Mexes – 4 – Erratic
Erratic performance from the Frenchman after a series of good performances for the Rossoneri; Lazio made use of the spaces left between him and his defensive partners. Also lost his temper towards the end of the game with a foolish altercation with Mauri that ultimately led to his sending off.
Alex – 5 – Abysmal
Just like Mexes, the Brazilian did not perform at his best on the night, as Lazio exploited the spaces left between the defensive line.
Pablo Armero – 5 – Bullied
Pestered all night long by Basta and Candreva down the left-hand side, and never really contributed to his side’s attack, leaving Milan with a sterile left flank.
Andrea Poli – 5.5 – Stale
Looked very stale in midfield, did not make his usual runs, thus leaving the Rossoneri with a stagnant midfield.
Riccardo Montolivo – 6 – OK
Completely halted since the start of the second half; succumbed to pressure from the Lazio midfield thus losing possession whenever he advanced forward.
Marco van Ginkel – 5.5 – Anonymous
Just like most of his midfield partners, the former Vitesse man was anonymous at the Stadio Olimpico, before being taken off early on in the second half.
Giacomo Bonaventura – 6 – Unlucky
Worked well for large parts of the game with a typical box-to-box performance; crucial in Milan’s transition from defence to attack, which halted when he left the pitch injured.
Jeremy Menez – 6 – Tried
Dropped deep for most of the game in order to build Milan moves following the injury to Bonaventura; regardless of the goal scored, the French international was by far the Rossoneri’s best player on the night.
Stephan El Shaarawy – 5.5 – Isolated
Barely touched the ball let alone be involved in an attack, tried to drop deep like Menez, but Lazio’s positioning proved too much for the 22-year-old.
Substitute
Alessio Cerci – 5.5 – Ineffective
Introduced in the second half but fell to the sturdy Lazio defence.
Giampaolo Pazzini – N/A
Sulley Muntari – N/A
