AC Milan 1 - 1 Lazio Highlights

Milan rested a number of players ahead of next week’s big Champions League match with Arsenal. Andrea Pirlo, Kaka, Alessandro Nesta, Massimo Ambrsoini and Filippo Inzaghi were all left out. Giuseppe Favalli was suspended, while Alexander Pato partnered Alberto Gilardino up-front.

Lazio welcomed back Valon Behrami from a ban as Delio Rossi opted for an attacking line-up including Goran Pandev, Tommaso Rocchi and Rolando Bianchi in the forward positions.

Milan made a bright start and Clarence Seedorf cut the ball back for Yoann Gourcuff, who sliced the ball wide from the edge of the area.

Seedorf was seeing a lot of the ball early on and a delightful back-flick started off a move which ended in Pato bringing out the first save of the game for Marco Ballotta.

Lazio had their first shot of the game when Lorenzo De Silvestri bombed forward from right back and go in behind Marek Jankulovski, before firing straight at Zeljko Kalac.

The away side were sitting deep and trying to hit Milan on the break, and on 26 minutes Bianchi was released down the right but he dragged his shot well wide.

All in all there were few chances in the first half-an-hour, with the predictable pattern of Milan having all the possession but struggling to unlock the opposition brick wall.

Pato burst into life on 33 minutes, losing his man, cutting inside Sebastiano Siviglia before unleashing a piledriver that Ballotta put all his weight behind.

Milan then received a blow as Seedorf picked up an injury and had to come off. He was replaced by the teenager Alberto Paloschi, meaning there were now two 18-year-olds in the Rossoneri line-up along with Pato.

There was precious little goalmouth action to report in the first half, as Bianchi hit a hopeful volley from way out on the right but it was high, wide and not very handsome.

Carlo Ancelotti used up his remaining two substitutions at half-time, bringing on Digao, Kaka’s younger brother, for his first Serie A appearance. Ambrosini was also introduced, as Emerson and Jankulovski made way.

Tommaso Rocchi came out of the blocks fast in the second half, first with a snapshot that went wide, and then with a ferocious drive that brought out a fantastic save from Kalac at his near post.

Lazio were shooting at will and Pandev forced another superb stop from Kalac, who fingertipped the Macedonian’s effort around the post.

The goal was coming and on 53 minutes Lazio did indeed take the lead as Rocchi turned the ball into the box, and Bianchi slid in to toe-poke the ball past the keeper.

The substitutions at half time had really had a negative effect on Milan, who were all over the place. Pato attempted to take the game by the scruff of the neck and flashed a volley wide of Ballotta’s post.

On 65 minutes Milan were handed a lifeline to get back into the game as Kaladze was having his shirt pulled by Behrami and the referee pointed to the spot. Oddo stepped up and fired low to Ballotta’s right to equalise.

After the goal Milan started to dominate possession again, but they still failed to open up the Lazio defence. On 75 minutes Ambrosini turned well in the area but he could not get his left foot shot on target.

Down the other end Lazio substitute Gabi Mudingayi tried his luck from long-range but his shot was well over.

On 83 minutes Pato went on an explosive counter-attack and was cynically taken out by De Silvestri, who received a straight red card. The sending off was perhaps a little harsh, however the wing-back had made no attempt to get the ball.

Milan stepped it up looking for the winner and Gourcuff let fly from 30 yards but it was straight at Ballotta. However this was the best they could muster and Lazio comfortably held on for a deserved point.

Milan: Kalac, Oddo, Bonera, Kaladze, Jankulovski (Digao 46), Gattuso, Emerson (Ambrosini 46), Gourcuff, Seedorf (Paloschi 36), Gilardino, Pato

Lazio: Ballotta, De Silvestri, Cribari, Radu, De Silvestri, Behrami (Rozenhal 88), Ledesma, Dabo (Mudingayi 60), Pandev, Rocchi, Bianchi