AC Milan vs Lazio preview - Allegri wary of Lazio threat - 7M sport

AC Milan vs Lazio preview - Allegri wary of Lazio threat



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Posted Tuesday, February 01, 2011 by PA

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri expects Lazio to provide his title-chasing team with a stern test at the San Siro.

The Rossoneri maintained their four-point lead at the top of the Serie A table with a 2-0 win at Catania on Sunday.

However, Allegri has warned his players to expect a battle when Lazio come to town.

"Lazio are doing great things," he said. "They have good players and we will have to be very careful because we are at a crucial stage in the season where we cannot give away points.

"Our aim is to finish the campaign with 80 points and in order to do that we have to win 11 more games."

Last weekend's win came at a price for Milan, with captain Massimo Ambrosini suffering a groin injury.

Milan, who have lost just twice at the San Siro this season, are also without suspended midfielder Mark van Bommel and injury victims Alessandro Pirlo, Andrea Nesta, Clarence Seedorf and Gianluca Zambrotta.

Allegri is expected to hand new signing Nicola Legrottaglie his first start.

The veteran defender joined Milan from Juventus.

"Nicola is an experienced player and he will no doubt give us a helping hand," Allegri said.

Lazio travel north buoyed by last weekend's 2-0 win over Fiorentina.

That result was their second win in five games and lifted the Roman outfit to third in the standings, seven points behind Milan.

"If we play with the fighting spirit and the will to win that we showed against Fiorentina, we can go to Milan and play our game," Lazio coach Edy Reja said.

"Milan are very strong in attack but if we again show that defensive focus which helped us win against Fiorentina, we can surprise our rivals.

"We cannot forget that with the top teams we have done well this season."

The visitors are still without strikers Tommaso Rocchi and Mauro Zarate, with the former out injured and the latter suspended.

Czech forward Libor Kozak will again lead Lazio's attack with Hernanes in support.



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