Stats Pack: Milan must Immobile-ize Ciro to get anything out of Lazio clash

Milan meet Lazio today in the fixture that could turn around their season. To heighten your enjoyment of the game and the context surrounding it, here are the stats you need to know.

Lazio and Milan have met 51 times across all competitions previously and Milan have got the better of the Biancocelesti over the course of history with 23 wins. 20 other matches between the two sides ended in draws while Lazio have enjoyed 8 wins against Milan. History would be firmly on Milan’s side, but it usually is in any circumstance...

Lazio have only lost a single home game against the Rossoneri in their past six encounters in Rome. Milan come into today’s game having won five of their eleven away matches this season, losing four and drawing two. It’s a case of polar opposites for Milan in this case and a draw may not be on the cards. That statement is strengthened by Lazio’s home form which has seen them achieve victory in 8 of their 12 home games, drawing just once and losing three times in Rome. A strong case can be made for a Lazio win today.

The Rossoneri are scoring 1.4 goals a game which is beaten by Lazio’s 1.8 strikes a game. Milan will hold a bit more of the ball, averaging 52% possession compared to Lazio’s 50%. Milan are also the better passers with a pass completion rate of 82% over Lazio’s 80%.

Ciro Immobile represents Lazio’s biggest threat and the Italian hitman has found the net 13 times in 24 matches thus far. His four shots a game are usually on target and more often than not come from right in front of the goal. This means that he’s going to operate as the perfect poacher and Milan’s patchwork defence could give him to opportunity to feast. Milan haven’t yet settled on a striking option, but are likely to start Gerard Deulofeu as a central striker today.

A win for the Rossoneri will see them move to equal Lazio on 43 points (but behind on goal difference) - a win for Lazio sees them build a six point lead on Milan and will likely put an end to Milan’s European hopes. The odds are weighted quite heavily in Lazio’s favour, considering Milan’s defensive fragility and Ciro Immobile’s prowess in the box. However, it could come to a single moment of magic and Milan through Deulofeu and Suso have the personnel to deliver that.