Lazio vs AC Milan: Preview, Prediction, Lineups | Coppa Italia 2025/26

On: December 3, 2025 1:17 AM

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Lazio vs AC Milan — Match Preview

The Coppa Italia Round of 16 serves up a heavyweight clash straight away as Lazio host AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico. This fixture comes with an intense narrative: the two sides met just four days ago in Serie A, with Milan securing a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to a tactical masterclass.

For Lazio, this is an immediate shot at redemption. The Biancocelesti have been inconsistent, winning two and losing two of their last four matches. With their midfield decimated by injuries, manager Maurizio Sarri (or current boss) must find a way to disrupt Milan’s rhythm if they want to keep their silverware hopes alive.

AC Milan, meanwhile, are flying high. Unbeaten in their last five and fresh off back-to-back 1-0 wins over Inter and Lazio, the Rossoneri have found a new defensive solidity. However, the quick turnaround and the absence of key attackers like Christian Pulisic and Santiago Giménez will test their squad depth. Can Lazio use home advantage to flip the script, or will Milan march on to the quarter-finals?

Lazio vs AC Milan — Quick Match Info

Fixture: Lazio vs AC Milan
Competition: Coppa Italia Frecciarossa (Round of 16)
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome (Capacity: 70,634)
Date: Thursday, 04 December 2025
Kickoff Time: 21:00 CET / 20:00 GMT / 01:30 IST (Friday)
Referee: TBC
TV Channel (Italy): Mediaset (Italia 1)
TV Channel (USA): Paramount+
TV Channel (India): Star Sports Select 1, Disney+ Hotstar (TBC)
Live Stream: Mediaset Infinity (Italy), Paramount+ (USA)

Lazio vs AC Milan — Match Context (2025/26 Season)

Lazio:

League Form: Inconsistent. They sit outside the top 4 and are struggling for rhythm. The recent 1-0 loss to Milan was frustrating as they failed to create clear chances.
Current Challenge: Midfield Crisis. With Rovella and Cataldi out, Lazio lack their usual control in the engine room. They need to find a way to progress the ball without their primary playmakers.

AC Milan:

League Form: Excellent. They have stabilized their season with pragmatic wins. The 1-0 Derby win vs Inter followed by the win against Lazio has morale sky-high.
Current Challenge: Attack without Pulisic. The American has been their MVP this season. Without him and Giménez, the creative burden falls heavily on Rafael Leão.

Lazio vs AC Milan — What’s at Stake

For Lazio:

Saving the Season: The Coppa Italia represents their most realistic chance of a trophy. An early exit here would put immense pressure on their league campaign.

For AC Milan:

Momentum: Winning three big games in 10 days (Inter, Lazio x2) would send a terrifying message to the rest of Italy.

Lazio vs AC Milan — Team Form

Lazio (Last 5 Matches):

L vs AC Milan (0-1)
W vs Lecce (2-0)
L vs Inter (0-2)
W vs Cagliari (2-0)
D vs Pisa (0-0)

AC Milan (Last 5 Matches):

W vs Lazio (1-0)
W vs Inter (1-0)
D vs Parma (2-2)
W vs AS Roma (1-0)
D vs Atalanta (1-1)

Lazio vs AC Milan — Team News

Lazio:

Nicolò Rovella: Out (Groin Injury – Major loss for ball progression).
Danilo Cataldi: Out (Injury – Further depletes midfield options).
Matteo Cancellieri: Out (Muscle Injury).
Samuel Gigot: Out (Ankle Injury).
Zachary Athekame: Out (Muscle Injury).
Rotation: Expect Matías Vecino and Gaetano Castrovilli (if available) or Dele-Bashiru to step into the midfield void. Boulaye Dia could start upfront to freshen the attack.

AC Milan:

Christian Pulisic: Out (Thigh Injury – The team’s top creator is missing).
Santiago Giménez: Out (Ankle Injury – The Mexican striker remains sidelined).
Defensive Stability: With Matteo Gabbia and Fikayo Tomori forming a wall recently, they are expected to start, though Strahinja Pavlović might rotate in for the cup.
Attack: With Pulisic out, Samuel Chukwueze is the likely starter on the right wing.

Lazio vs AC Milan — Head to Head

30 Nov 2025: Lazio 0–1 AC Milan
03 Mar 2025: Lazio 1–2 AC Milan
01 Sep 2024: Lazio 2–2 AC Milan
02 Mar 2024: Lazio 0–1 AC Milan
30 Sep 2023: AC Milan 2–0 Lazio
Analysis: Milan have dominated this fixture recently, winning 4 of the last 5. Lazio have struggled to score against the Rossoneri, netting only 3 goals in those 5 games.

Lazio vs AC Milan — Predicted Lineups

Lazio (4-2-3-1):

Without Rovella/Cataldi, Lazio might play a more physical midfield.

GK: Ivan Provedel
RB: Adam Marušić
CB: Mario Gila
CB: Alessio Romagnoli (C)
LB: Nuno Tavares
CDM: Matías Vecino
CDM: Mattéo Guendouzi
RW: Gustav Isaksen
CAM: Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
LW: Mattia Zaccagni
ST: Valentín Castellanos

AC Milan (4-3-3):

Chukwueze steps in for Pulisic.

GK: Mike Maignan
RB: Emerson Royal
CB: Malick Thiaw (Rotation)
CB: Strahinja Pavlović
LB: Theo Hernández (C)
CM: Youssouf Fofana
CM: Tijjani Reijnders
CM: Ruben Loftus-Cheek
RW: Samuel Chukwueze
ST: Tammy Abraham (or Morata)
LW: Rafael Leão

Lazio vs AC Milan — Impact Bench Options

Lazio:

Boulaye Dia: Offers more mobility and goal threat than Castellanos if Lazio are chasing the game.
Pedro: The veteran loves big nights and can unlock defenses with his passing late on.

AC Milan:

Noah Okafor: A “Super Sub” specialist. If the game is tied, his pace against tired legs is Milan’s best weapon.
Álvaro Morata: If he doesn’t start, his experience and hold-up play are invaluable for closing out a game.

Lazio vs AC Milan — Tactical Outlook

Lazio:

Playing Style: Forced Directness. Usually a possession side, the absence of Rovella forces Lazio to be more direct. They will rely on Nuno Tavares and Zaccagni driving down the left flank to create overloads.
Weakness: Midfield Control. A pivot of Vecino and Guendouzi is physical but lacks the passing range to dictate play against Milan’s Reijnders and Fofana.

AC Milan:

Playing Style: Counter-Punch. Without Pulisic, Milan will likely sit slightly deeper and look to spring Leão and Chukwueze into space. They are comfortable absorbing pressure (as seen on Sunday).
Strength: Left Flank. The Theo-Leão partnership is the best in Italy. Lazio’s Marusic will need double coverage all night.

Lazio vs AC Milan — Key Battles

Matchup	Battle Type	Edge
Adam Marušić vs. Rafael Leão	Survival Mode: Marušić struggled against Leão on Sunday. He needs help from Guendouzi, or Leão will destroy that flank again.	Milan
Mattéo Guendouzi vs. Tijjani Reijnders	Midfield Engine: Guendouzi brings energy; Reijnders brings class. Whoever controls this zone dictates the tempo.	Tie
Alessio Romagnoli vs. Tammy Abraham	Physical Duel: Romagnoli knows Milan well. Abraham will look to drag him out of position to create space for runners.	Lazio

Lazio vs AC Milan — Spotlight Players

Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio):

The Lazio captain needs to step up. With the midfield depleted, he is the primary source of creativity. He must win his 1v1s against Emerson Royal to give the Olimpico crowd something to cheer about.

Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan):

This is his big chance. With Pulisic out, the Nigerian winger needs to show he can be decisive. His dribbling is elite, but his end product must be sharp to break down a stubborn Lazio defense.

Lazio vs AC Milan — Fan Reactions

Lazio Fans:

“We looked toothless on Sunday. If we play the same way, we are out. Sarri needs to change the system.”

“No Rovella, no party. Our midfield looks so static without him.”

AC Milan Fans:

“Winning the double-header would be sweet. Leão owns Lazio.”

“Pulisic out is a worry, but Chukwueze is more than capable. Let’s get this done in 90 minutes.”

Lazio vs AC Milan — Match-Defining Factors

The “Revenge” Factor: Playing the same team twice in 4 days is psychological warfare. Lazio will be angrier and more aggressive; Milan might be slightly complacent.
Milan’s Right Side: Without Pulisic, Milan’s right side is usually weaker. If Lazio overload that side, they might find joy.
Extra Time Potential: Cup ties are often cagey. If it’s 0-0 at 60 minutes, both teams might play for penalties given their fatigue levels.

Lazio vs AC Milan — Prediction

Score Prediction: Lazio 1–1 AC Milan (AC Milan to win on penalties)

Betting Insights:

Outcome: Draw (in 90 mins).
Total Goals: Under 2.5 Goals (Both teams are tired; recent H2H was 1-0).
To Qualify: AC Milan.

Analysis: It is incredibly difficult to beat the same top team twice in four days. Lazio will likely get a result (a draw) in normal time driven by home pride, but Milan’s superior squad depth and confidence should see them edge through, possibly via extra time or penalties.

Lazio vs AC Milan — Final Word

It’s Round 2 of this heavy-hitting duel. Lazio are wounded and desperate, while AC Milan are confident but depleted. Expect a tighter, scrappier affair than Sunday’s league match, with tension high and chances few and far between. The Rossoneri remain favorites, but the Biancocelesti won’t go down without a fight at the Olimpico.

Lazio vs AC Milan — FAQs

When is the Lazio vs Milan Cup match?

The match is on Thursday, 04 December 2025, at 21:00 CET.

Is Christian Pulisic playing?

No, Pulisic is out with a thigh injury.

Is Santiago Giménez playing?

No, Giménez is ruled out with an ankle injury.

Where can I watch the match in India?

Coppa Italia matches are typically broadcast on Star Sports Select or streamed on Disney+ Hotstar (subject to rights confirmation).

Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community

Can Lazio get their revenge, or is Milan’s dominance set to continue? Drop your predictions below!

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