- Akshat Mehrish
For the first time since matchday 2 of Serie A, AC Milan slid out of the UEFA Champions League places. It looked like the Rossoneri were marching towards an unprecedented title win at one moment. However, as things stand, they risk missing out on the top four.
AC Milan are down to fifth in the league after a horrific defeat against Lazio. Stefano Pioli’s side now risks missing out on a return to the UEFA Champions League, despite holding onto a top-four spot for much of the season. They were beaten 3-0 on the night and are now behind Juventus and Napoli based on goal difference.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed out on the match despite signing a new contract until 2022 recently. In his absence, Pioli picked Mario Mandzukic to lead the line. However, the veteran forward could not match the scoring form of his teammate, and Milan registered a blank on the night.
On the contrary, Lazio were at their lethal best in this one and took the match with barely two minutes played. Attacker Joaquin Correa pounced on a mistake by Ismael Bennacer before combining with Ciro Immobile and then scoring past Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal. AC Milan tried to hit back immediately and came close on a couple of occasions. However, Lazio goalkeeper Pepe Reina was up to the task to deny the Rossoneri the equalizing goal.
Lazio doubled their lead shortly after the break, with Correa getting on the scoresheet once again. The Argentine forward blasted the ball into the net after being played through by former Liverpool man Luis Alberto. Simone Inzaghi’s men completed a resounding victory three minutes from the time when Ciro Immobile scored his customary goal. The Italian was picked out by Manuel Lazzari before he thumped the ball past Donnarumma from just inside the box.
Milan’s loss was made far worse by Napoli’s win earlier in the night. Gennaro Gattuso’s team beat strugglers Torino 2-0, with Tiemoue Bakayoko and Victor Osimhen scoring early goals. As a result, they leapfrog both Milan and Juventus and are currently third in the league table. If things stand the way they are, Napoli and Juventus will qualify for next season’s Champions League alongside Atalanta and champions-elect Inter Milan.
