3 days ago
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AC Milan’s 2025-26 Coppa Italia journey was ended at the round of 16 stage as they were beaten 1-0 by Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.
Just like in the Serie A contest a few days ago one goal was enough to win it and it came in the second half again. However, this time it would be Lazio celebrating as Mattia Zaccagni’s header from a corner with 10 minutes left settled the tie.
Milan couldn’t fashion a goal against a resolute defence despite some late rolls of the dice from Massimiliano Allegri, and Maurizio Sarri’s men got some form of revenge for events at San Siro. They will play Bologna in the quarter-finals.
Allegri made five changes to the starting line-up from the team that beat Lazio in the league on Saturday night. Koni De Winter, Pervis Estupinan, Samuele Ricci, Ardon Jashari and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all came in, with Jashari making his first start after a long injury lay-off.
The referee got his cards out after less than two minutes of the game, and it was Strahinja Pavlovic – the man at the centre of Saturday’s controversy – who got the yellow card for a lunge on Guendouzi. Basic took the free-kick, but couldn’t get it to dip under the bar.
The opening exchanges were largely dominated by the Biancocelesti just like at the weekend, yet with a real lack of penetration from either side and a lot of midfield duels.
The first 15 minutes were probably best summed up by a clearance from Koni De Winter cannoning into the referee, then Rafael Leao getting chopped down by Vecino but for no yellow card.
Things started to open up a bit just after the midway point in the first half. Lazio broke through Milan’s midfield line and had the defence back-peddling, though Basic dragged his shot just wide of the far post after getting inside the box.
Milan were generally untidy in possession in the opening 45 minutes in what was a repeat of the game a few days ago. After twice fluffing opportunities to clear their lines, Castellanos should have maybe done better than his weak attempt from the edge of the box which Mike Maignan got down and saved.
The Rossoneri created only one bit of danger in the first half. It came when Estupinan hung up a cross that Loftus-Cheek headed up in the air, then Saelemaekers’ cut-back ended up pin balling into the grateful arms of Mandas.
Maignan having to make a key first-half save had become a habit by this point, and he did well to keep out a volley from Isaksen after a corner was not dealt with properly, though how much the Frenchman knew about it is uncertain given his proximity and the crowd of bodies.
Milan had the first opportunity of the second half, and it fell to Loftus-Cheek. A teasing cross was whipped in by Estupinan from the left side and the former Chelsea man rose highest to meet it, yet his header glanced the roof of the net as he couldn’t quite keep it down.
The away side continued to grow into the game. A corner routine just before the hour mark saw Saelemaekers curl a shot towards the top corner that Mandas snatched at the second attempt.
In the 64th minute, Allegri made his first change of the game as Saelemaekers made way for Christopher Nkunku. Loftus-Cheek seemed to then move to right wing-back, with Nkunku joining Leao up front.
Milan really should have taken the lead with just over 20 minutes left as Estupinan slipped a ball through to Rabiot, whose cross from the left touchline saw both Loftus-Cheek and Ricci arrive but the header went wide from close range.
The opportunities continued to fall Milan’s way, and Estupinan was again involved down his side, this time being the one to pull the ball back to Leao who somehow sent his first-time shot well over the bar from just ahead of the penalty spot.
Despite having the better of the half, Milan fell behind with 10 minutes of the game left. A corner from the right flank was met by the unlikely head of Zaccagni, whose near-post flick beat Maignan’s desperate late dive.
Allegri’s response was to throw on the two game-changers he had on the bench: Luka Modric and Christian Pulisic came on, with Jashari and Loftus-Cheek coming off.
Maignan kept Milan in the tie with a good one-handed save to keep out Noslin’s scissor-kick, and not long after Estuponan was replaced by Davide Bartesaghi.
In the first minute of five added, Mandas had to be on his toes when Pulisic fired a snapshot from a Leao cut-back that was heading inside the near post.
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