Club football has taken a back seat for a fortnight, allowing the national teams to continue their path to Qatar 2022. Serie A football will be back in action next weekend, with Milan playing host to familiar foes Lazio in a mouth-watering top-flight encounter at the San Siro.
Despite lacking headline performer Zlatan Ibrahimovic due to injury, Stefano Pioli’s men were off to a flying start to their new Serie A campaign. Back-to-back victories over Sampdoria and Cagliari have shown last season’s runners-up finish was no fluke as I Rossoneri hope to mount a serious title challenge this term.
Olivier Giroud unveiled himself to the San Siro faithful with a quick-fire first-half brace to help Milan brush the Sardinians aside with a comprehensive 4-1 triumph at home last time out. The seven-time European Cup winners will be aiming to carry that momentum when the international window comes to a close.
Lazio (Serie A) – September 12
Last’s season Theo Hernandez’s late heroics gave Milan a fourth win in five Serie A games against Lazio at home. However, I Biancocesti inflicted painful revenge in the reverse fixture, dismantling Pioli’s side 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico in late April.
Maurizio Sarri’s tenure in the capital started with consecutive victories over newly-promoted Empoli and Spezia. Despite conceding first on each occasion, Lazio won both encounters by multi-goal margins following a half-time lead.
With all due respect to the likes of Sampdoria and Cagliari, Lazio will be Milan’s first stern test in the early stage of the season. But neutral could be in for a treat, given that both previous top-flight H2Hs at the San Siro have seen 3+ goals and both teams scoring.
Liverpool (Champions League) – September 15
Milan’s first Champions League fixture since 2014 pits them against old foes Liverpool at Anfield. Drawn in a challenging Group B alongside Atletico Madrid and Porto, I Rossoneri face an uphill task of making it out to the knock-out stage.
Milan and Liverpool have faced twice in the Champions League in the 21st century, both times in the grand final. After suffering heartbreak in the iconic final in Istanbul in 2005, the Italian heavyweights settled the score two years later in Athens.
Given the Merseysiders’ recent showings in the Premier League and Europe, it comes as no surprise they are hot favorites to beat Milan in their returning Champions League outing. It will be an opportunity for Pioli to assess his side’s capacity against one of Europe’s strongest teams, nonetheless.
Juventus (Serie A) – September 19
Pioli must be cursing the fixture planners as the September schedule shows no mercy to Milan. Just four days after their trip to Anfield, I Rossoneri will head to the Allianz Stadium to meet record-time Serie A champions Juventus in a highly anticipated top-flight contest.
Cristiano Ronaldo-less Bianconeri went into the international break without a single win from their two Serie A matches (D1, L1), including a shocking 1-0 loss to Empoli at home. Massimiliano Allegri will be hoping to rally his troops and bounce back from a sluggish start to the season by the time his side take on in-form Milan.
Last season’s emphatic 3-0 victory in Turin presents the visitors with a chance to post consecutive away league wins over Juventus for the first time since 2011. Given the home side’s current form, such a prospect is not at all beyond the realm of possibility.
Venezia (Serie A) – September 22
Venezia’s visit to the San Siro on September 22 should provide Milan with a manageable task following a hectic ten-day schedule. It will be the first top-flight meeting between these two sides since the Lombard giants’ 4-1 win in February 2002.
Venezia’s first Serie A campaign in almost 20 years has been off to a dismal start as they lost both inaugural league games by 2+ goals ‘to nil.’ Expectations are low on the back of a slow start that saw I Lagunari face 31 shots across their opening two top-flight outings.
So this should be a field day for Milan, who are unbeaten in their last three home league match-ups against Venezia (W2, D1).
Spezia (Serie A) – September 25
Milan supporters must still be having the traumatic memories of their side’s only previous trip to the Stadio Alberto Picco embedded in their minds. A somewhat shocking 2-0 defeat at this venue in mid-February knocked I Rossoneri off their perch, swinging last season’s title race into Inter’s favor.
Heading into proceedings with revenge on their minds, Milan will be looking to build some momentum ahead of their high-profile Champions League showdown against Atletico Madrid three days later.
Despite returning just one point from their first two Serie A games this season, Spezia are unlikely to make life easy for Milan. Thiago Motta’s team demonstrated their ability to defy underdog status and pick up the points at long odds last season.
Atletico Madrid (Champions League) – September 28
San Siro’s seven-year wait for Champions League football will come to a close on September 28 against a side that was incidentally Milan’s last opposition in Europe’s top club competition. Indeed, Atletico Madrid ousted I Rossoneri from the 2013/14 Champions League last-16, winning both legs, including a 1-0 triumph at this venue.
While Milan’s story since their last meeting has been nothing if not unpleasant, the Spaniards have gone from strength to strength in both domestic and European competitions. In addition to lifting two La Liga titles, Los Rojiblancos have featured in two Champions League finals, albeit without any success.
Therefore, Milan’s last game in September will be a daunting one.