The Coppa Italia has reached the semi-final stage and we will witness the first legs of those semi-finals this week. On Tuesday 26th February Lazio will host AC Milan in the first leg of their semi-final at the Stadio Olimpico.
This is a huge game and with Juventus having already been eliminated from the competition, both teams will believe they have a chance of lifting the trophy this season.
Lazio come into the game having had their Serie A match postponed on the weekend. The reason being they played in the Europa League last week and their Serie A game was scheduled for Monday, with this match taking place on Tuesday, so it was never going to work.
However, having lost 2-0 in Seville, Lazio may have wished they had another game ahead of this one as they have now lost each of their last three matches in all competitions. In addition to the loss in Seville on Wednesday, Lazio lost 2-1 at Genoa in Serie A and were beaten 1-0 at home by Sevilla in the first leg of their Europa League tie.
Trends show Lazio have won two of their last eight matches in all competitions, both of which came in Serie A. There was a 1-0 win at Frosinone and 1-0 home success over Empoli.
Home form shows Lazio have won three of their last nine games in all competitions and have kept just one clean sheet. They have defeated Novara and Inter Milan on penalties to reach this stage of the Coppa Italia.
AC Milan will travel to Roma full of confidence having defeated Empoli 3-0 at home on Friday night. That win means they have remained undefeated for their last seven games in all competitions, winning five of them.
In fact, AC Milan have lost only one of their last ten games in all competitions and that was a 1-0 defeat to Juventus in the Italian Super Cup.
Not including the Super Cup, which was played at a neutral venue, AC Milan are undefeated in their last six away games. There have been wins over Genoa, Atalanta and Sampdoria, the latter of which was after extra-time.
AC Milan have scored 2 or more goals in three of their last four away games and defeated Sampdoria and Napoli to reach this stage of the Coppa Italia.
Team news and Lazio have doubts over the fitness of Jordan Lukaku, Luiz Felipe, Luis Alberto and Valon Berisha. This game has come too soon for Wallace and Bastos is out until late March.
AC Milan have Mattia Caldara back in training but it remains to be seen if he will be involved. Cristian Zapata, Pepe Reina and Giacomo Bonaventura are injured.
Lazio have the home advantage for this first leg but AC Milan are the form team and we should be in for a good game. This one could end level and set us up nicely for the second leg.