Following on from the 2-0 away victory over Cagliari last week, Edoardo Reja made three changes to his Lazio side, with injured goalkeeper Federico Marchetti making way for Etrit Berisha and Miroslav Klose and Senad Lulić dropping out for Brayan Perea and Keita Balde Diao. After losing 4-2 at home to Parma, Clarence Seedorf made no fewer than six changes, with suspended goalkeeper Christian Abbiati replaced by Marco Amelia, and Ignazio Abate, Daniele Bonera, Urby Emanuelson, Riccardo Montolivo and Mario Balotelli all dropping out for Mattia De Sciglio, Adil Rami, Kevin Constant, Keisuke Honda and Giampaolo Pazzini.
Lazio vs. AC Milan: Final score 1-1, points shared in Olimpico encounter
Lazio and AC Milan played out their second 1-1 draw of the season as both sides struggled in front of goal.
In the early exchanges, Lazio were clearly on top as Milan struggled to settle, lacking shape and any sort of cohesion. Antonio Candreva was particularly dangerous down the Lazio right but despite this, they struggled to create any real chances and it was Milan who had the first real opportunity late in the half. Keisuke Honda tried an audacious effort from the right which sailed over as Giampaolo Pazzini screamed for the ball, unmarked in the centre.
Lazio did manage to get the ball in the net as Diego Novaretti thought he'd scored his first goal for the club, but it was ruled out on the grounds of Giuseppe Biava being offside when the ball was played and then challenging for the ball in the air.
This was punished almost instantly as Milan then went ahead, much against the run of play and in very lucky circumstances. Kaká‘s cross from the right deflected off Abdoulay Konko’s face and beat Etrit Berisha at his front post to give the visitors a lead that their play really didn’t warrant.
Lazio continued to be the better side in the second half, Lucas Biglia having a golden opportunity to equalise after Marco Amelia punched the ball directly to him; however, his volley was blocked by a well-placed Nigel De Jong.
Three minutes after this and Lazio did finally equalise. The irrepressible Antonio Candreva crossed from the right-hand side and Biglia flicked the ball on for Álvaro González, who headed home powerfully for a goal Lazio had deserved from the first minute.
Lazio continued to push forward but they were still starved of any real chances, and with the introduction of Mario Balotelli, Milan appeared to gain a small spark. With 10 minutes to go, Balotelli crossed from the right-hand side, the ball cannoning off the shin of fellow substitute Sulley Muntari into the path of Giampaolo Pazzini, whose acrobatic effort went just over the bar.
Three minutes later and Milan actually ended up having the best chance to take all three points as Balotelli volleyed against the post following a corner.
Candreva had a good opportunity to win it for Lazio as they countered quickly, but his effort at the end of it was high and wide despite having the time and space to take a touch to set himself. In the end, the points were probably deservedly shared, given Lazio's failings in front of goal.
Lazio: Berisha; Konko, Biava, Novaretti, Radu; González (Mauri 87’), Ledesma, Biglia (Onazi 79’); Candreva, Perea (Lulić 54’), Keita
Goals: González (61’)
Milan: Amelia; De Sciglio (Bonera 84’), Mexès, Rami, Constant; Poli (Muntari 76’), De Jong, Essien; Honda (Balotelli 54’), Pazzini, Kaká
Goals: Konko (OG 43’)
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