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This weekend, AC Milan host Lazio at San Siro, and it could be an opportunity to claim the top spot in Serie A.
Maurizio Sarri and Massimiliano Allegri are no strangers to each other, and their rivalry stretches back almost 20 years. Both returned to a place previously called home in the summer, and they will now face each other twice in less than a week.
For Milan, it is a chance to further establish themselves, with another game against a top team from last year. Additionally, a win could take them top, with Roma hosting Napoli.
With questionable form against the top teams this season, the Laziali will look to cause some upset on their first return to the stadium after being beaten by Inter 2-0 before the break.
Lazio in 2025-26
➤ Manager: Maurizio Sarri
➤ Form (all comps): W-L-W-D-W
➤ Top scorer (Serie A): Matteo Cancellieri & Mattia Zaccagni – 3
➤ Most assists (Serie A): Valentin Castellanos – 3
➤ Injuries & suspensions: Samuel Gigot, Nicolo Rovella and Matteo Cancellieri
Lazio’s rollercoaster 2025-26 began at the start of the summer, with the rather logical move to bring Maurizio Sarri back as the head coach with Marco Baroni departing. Things threatened to fall apart rather quickly, though.
It emerged that a transfer embargo had been imposed on the capital club due to financial irregularities. Sarri claimed he was not fully informed about not being able to do any incoming business until after he signed his contract, but decided not to walk away.
Lazio were able to make the signings of Nicolo Rovella and Luca Pellegrini permanent after their loans from Juventus ran out, costing €21m combined. Nuno Tavares was also made permanent from Arsenal, as were Samuel Gigot from Marseille and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru from Hatayspor.
The big sale was Loum Tchaouna to Burnley for around €15m, while Nicolo Casale headed to Bologna for €6.5m. Generally speaking though, they headed into the new campaign with the same core group of players.
The results early on mirrored the chaos, with Lazio losing to Como (2-0), Sassuolo (1-0) and Roma (0-1) in their opening four games, with a 4-0 win over Verona mixed in. Since then, though, they have lost only one match in Serie A and that came in round 11 against Inter, a 2-0 defeat at San Siro.
An impressive run has seen them beat Genoa 3-0 away from home and Juventus 1-0 at the Olimpico. They also have a couple of 0-0s in their last six games, versus Atalanta and Pisa on the road.
Like Allegri, Sarri has some selection issues to contend with. Gigot, Rovella and Cancellieri are all certain to miss the game, with Castellanos, Cataldi and Mario Gila all facing late fitness tests to see if they can be a part of the matchday squad.
Predicted Lazio XI (4-3-3): Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Guendouzi, Vecino, Basic; Isaksen, Dia, Zaccagni.
Predicted bench: Mandas, Furlanetto, Vecino, Lazzari, Pedro, Patric, Noslin, Tavares, Hysaj, Provstgaard, Belahyane.
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