Dethroned Serie A champions Milan made a massive step toward securing a third straight top-four finish with a clear-cut 2-0 home win over second-placed Lazio. Much easier than expected, the Rossoneri eased past the Biancocelesti to avenge a woeful 4-0 defeat form the reverse fixture.
Milan came into proceedings seeking amends for an underwhelming 1-1 home draw against relegation-bound Cremonese on Wednesday. However, Stefano Pioli couldn’t have hoped for a worse start to the game as headline performer Rafael Leao picked up a thigh injury only ten minutes into the match. Yet instead of letting the Portuguese’s early exit ruffle their feathers, the Rossoneri went from strength to strength in the first half.
Ismael Bennacer took advantage of Lazio’s poor attempt to build from the back, stealing the ball on the edge of the box. A quick one-two with Olivier Giroud set the Algerian one-on-one with Ivan Provedel, who had no chance from point-blank as Milan broke the deadlock in the 17th minute. But Pioli’s men refused to stop there.
Theo Hernandez returned to the starting lineup after being handed much-needed rest against Cremonese and showed why many consider him the best left-back in Europe. Using basketball terminology, the Frenchman went coast-to-coast to double the home side’s lead with one of the best goals you’ll see in Serie A this season.
Although his phenomenal solo goal bore much resemblance to last season’s strike against Atalanta, Hernandez finished off his brilliant run with a stunning effort from outside the box into the top corner. Despite taking their foot off the gas for the remainder of the first half, Milan had no problems fending off Lazio’s uneventful attempts to get back into the game.
Maurizio Sarri’s men looked out of steam and incapable of bouncing back, as witnessed by the damning stats at the 70-minute mark. Despite trailing Milan by two goals, Lazio failed to produce a shot on target in the first three quarters of the match, with an xG of 0.25. Indeed, the Rossoneri were in cruising control of proceedings at the San Siro, saving much-needed energy ahead of the upcoming Champions League semi-finals against Inter.
Milan thought they grabbed the third when second-half Ante Rebic substitute slotted the ball past Provedel and into the net in the 83rd minute. But the linesman’s flag cut the Croat’s celebration short, denying him his fourth goal of the season. Nonetheless, Pioli’s side strolled to a crucial three points that will temporarily move them back to fourth, at least until Roma and Inter lock horns at the Stadio Olimpico later today.
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