AC Milan went into tonight's clash with Lazio knowing that a victory would lift them above the visitors into third place in Serie A.
Things got off to a bad start for Lazio, who were reduced to 10 men when Antonio Candreva was sent off for bringing down Stephan El Shaarawy.
The home side took full advantage before the break to open the scoring through. Giampaolo Pazzini. Kevin-Prince Boateng and a second Pazzini strike made the match safe for Massimiliano Allegri's side, earning a crucial three points in the race for Champions League football in the process.
Look back at a big win for Milan with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Hello European football fans and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of a clash with Champions League implications from Serie A. AC Milan have roared back into contention with a superb run of form in 2013 and are now just two points behind Lazio in third. The Rome giants travel to the San Siro in poor form and have it all to do in Northern Italy tonight.
Milan have been buoyed by the signing of Mario Balotelli but they must do without the mercurial striker this evening. The forward is out with a bruised knee, leaving Stephan El Shaarawy to lead the line for the home side. Massimiliano Allegri's side proved they can deliver against Barcelona in the Champions League last week, so expect them to be confident of a result.
Lazio have struggled desperately since losing talisman Miroslav Klose through injury. Worryingly for Vladimir Petkovic his side's usual defensive composure has deserted them in recent weeks, with goals being leaked in abundance. That trend must end tonight if their aim of catching Napoli in second place is to remain realistic.
BREAKING TEAM NEWS: Giampaolo Pazzini gets a rare chance for Milan tonight in the absence of Balotelli. Let's take a look at both starting XI's at the San Siro tonight.
MILAN: Abbiati, Abate, Zapata, Yepes, De Sciglio, Flamini, Ambrosini, Montolivo, Boateng, Pazzini, El Shaarawy
LAZIO: Marchetti, Pereirinha, Biava, Dias, Radu, Ledesma, Candreva, Gonzalez, Hernanes, Lulic, Floccari
Milan have been forced into another change in central change, with Philipe Mexes out through suspension. Mario Yepes comes in for the Frenchman, with Boateng, Pazzini and El Shaarawy forming a three-man attack.
Lazio will look to stay compact and hit Milan on the counter through Sergio Floccari. The visitors need Hernanes to recapture his early-season form quickly to keep their Champions League charge alive.
Milan will be compact and uncompromising in central midfield to avert the threat of Hernanes. Mathieu Flamini and Massimo Ambrosini are a pair of destroyers, with the Frenchman providing stamina and diligence to match Ambrosini's distirbution.
Kevin-Prince Boateng has been approaching something close to his very best in recent weeks, with freedom to roam in the final third. The Ghanaian international is a good bet to get on the scoresheet tonight if Lazio fail to shut Milan down in wide areas.
Who would have thought four weeks ago that Allegri's job at the San Siro would look secure? After a dismal start to the season which saw Milan stuck in the bottom half things have improved dramatically. The Rosseneri have won nine of their last 10 Serie A games and are now in with a genuine shout of maintaining their Champions League status.
There is just time before the two sides emerge at the San Siro for me to register a prediction. I am currently 1/1 in Serie A this weekend after calling Napoli/Juventus, so fingers crossed for tonight. Milan have been formidable recently but I expect goals at both ends tonight. Lazio should improve but will still come up just short tonight. 2-1 Milan with El Shaarawy to do the damage for the home side!
We are slightly late getting underway at the San Siro, where the atmosphere sounds fantastic for this clash between third and fourth in Serie A.
Lazio kick off shooting from left to right. The visitors make a positive start and force Zapata to head clear for a corner after a lofted through ball from Antonio Candreva.
SHOT! Milan spend the first three minutes firmly on the defensive as Lazio control possession but nearly break to deadly effect. El Shaarawy forces Marchetti to save from close range after an error at the back from Dias.
CHANCE! The home side could have had a penalty but should definitely be ahead. El Shaarawy looks to have got past Marchetti but the keeper gets a touch on the ball to force the forward wide. He is still able to send a shot towards goal but a superb clearance on the line from Biava somehow keeps the game goalless. What a start at the San Siro!
SHOT! Lazio go up the other end and create a great chance of their own just a minute later. Superb work from Candreva down the right tees up Floccari on the edge of the box, but the striker can only send a tame shot straight to Abbiati. That was a great chance for the visitors to go ahead.
Montolivo robs Candreva brilliantly in central midfield before spraying wide to Pazzini. Milan have recovered from a shaky first few minutes and look motivated to claim a crucial victory this evening.
CHANCE! Pazzini sends in a wonderful cross to Pazzini, who climbs above his marker but heads wide from eight yards. That was a glorious chance for the striker to put Milan ahead and he really should get his effort on target from that distance.
PENALTY APPEAL! El Shaarawy is appealing for a penalty after being brought down by Candreva just before getting his shot away. Lazio are insisting that the challenge is outside the box and after lengthy discussions with his assistants, the referee agrees. Now what action will the official take against Candreva?
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RED CARD! The referee Rizzoli has decided that Candreva was the last man and given the midfielder a straight red card. El Shaarawy was definitely thorough on goal and although the contact was minimal, it did deny Milan a clear goalscoring opportunity. After all that Montolivo's effort from the free kick is closed down for a corner.
El Shaarawy sends in a dangerous corner but Boateng's header is well wide of the near post. After a frenetic start Lazio have it all to for the next 70 minutes to take a positive result back to the capital.
Lazio have dropped deep and are attempting to stay compact and make it to half-time level. El Shaarawy decides to work his latest corner short to Montolivo, who blazes over from some distance.
CHANCE! A curling cross from De Sciglio nearly beats Marchetti at his far post. Boateng is at the far post but can't get a touch on the ball, which eventually drifts just inches wide of a relieved Marchetti. Milan are really piling on the pressure now!
El Shaarawy drives into the penalty are and past Gonzales to the byline. He eventually crosses into the six-yard box with the outside of his foot, but an inventive pass is intercepted by a strong header from Andre Dias.
Montolivo has options in the box but tries an intricate pass at the post, which sprays harmlessly wide for a goal kick. Lazio need to alleviate a constant wave of pressure and win the ball higher up the field, or this will be a long night for the visitors.
YELLOW CARD! Pazzini wants a penalty after going down under a challenge from Radu. The striker has gone down easily under slight contact and picks up a booking for his trouble.
The tempo of this game has definitely dropped in the last few minutes. Zapata sums up a small sense of frustration from the home supporters by thumping a crossfield pass meant for Montolivo straight out of play.
Flamini tries a drive from more than 30 yards out that is never troubling Marchetti. The former Arsenal midfielder is not known for his long-range shooting, but did produce one screamer for the Gunners against Newcastle in January, 2008. That goal is definitely worth a look online!
SHOT! Pazzini shows an instinctive touch to meet De Sciglio's low cross and send an acrobatic volley over from close range. The striker is appealing again, this time for a corner, but once again is left disappointed.
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GOAL! AC Milan 1-0 Lazio (Pazzini)
Milan are finally ahead through the forgotten man Pazzini. Marchetti can only parry a low strike from Abate into the path of El Shaarawy, who is prevented from getting a shot away by a firm last-ditch tackle. Unfortunately for Milan the ball spills straight to Pazzini, who taps into an empty net from close range.
GOAL! AC Milan 2-0 Lazio (Boateng)
Just before the break Milan have got a second which may just wrap this match up. Marchetti makes a superb save from Pazzini's header but again luck is against Lazio as the ball comes to an unmarked Milan player. This time it is Boateng's turn to lash home and give the home side a two-goal advantage against 10 men. Job done?
HALF-TIME AC Milan 2-0 Lazio
We looked set for an even, entertaining encounter early on but a red card has changed the complexion of the match. Candreva may feel hard done by but Lazio have learned the hard way that you cannot make contract with a striker if you are the last man. Milan have taken full advantage to build a 2-0 lead, which looks formidable at this stage.
Milan have dictated possession and territory since the dismissal and look particularly strong down the left-hand side. El Shaarawy and De Sciglio possess pace and skill that Lazio have been unable to shut down at a man disadvantage.
Just a reminder that a Milan victory tonight takes them above Lazio and into third place in the Serie A standings. Given the formidable run the Rossoneri are on at the moment Champions League football looks a realistic proposition once again!
Lazio coach Petkovic is in a difficult position at the break. Should he shut up shot and make the second half a damaged limitation exercise or does he believe a comeback is possible? Lorik Cana is warming up furiously at the break and is a defensive midfielder, which leads me to think Petkovic has decided on the former.
Both teams are back on the field and it looks like Milan are going to make a change at the interval too. Zaccardo is stripped and ready to come on in central defence.
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SUBSTITUTIONS: Zaccardo comes on in place of Zapata for his Milan debut. Lazio have introduced Cana to sit in front of the Lazio defence.
YELLOW CARD! Biava has been cautioned early in the second half for a blatant barge on El Shaarawy, which has the striker floored.
Cana has taken up an unfamiliar right-back position to combat the threat of Milan down the left-hand side. Portuguese full-back Pereirinha has been withdrawn after struggling throughout the first 45 minutes.
Montolivo plays a pass square to Ambrosini in acres of space, but the midfielder fluffs his lines with a scuffed shot that drifts wide towards Boateng. He manages to recycle possession and keep Lazio under pressure in their own half.
Zaccardo ventures forward for a set piece and meets a low pass from Ambrosini. The defender is under pressure from fellow sub Cana and ends up sending a tame shot to wide of Marchetti's near post.
Hernanes gets involved for the first time tonight on the counter, roaming forward to win a free kick just outside the penalty area. The playmaker blazes his effort over but gets a reprieve as the referee wants it taken again after pushing in the box.
SAVE! Abbiati makes a routine save from a second Hernanes strike. The shot is on target but lacks the power or bend to cause Abbiati problems as the veteran keeper palms clear with ease.
DOUBLE YELLOW CARD! Boateng and Radu clash for the second time in as many minutes, with the Lazio full-back furious after being pulled by his shirt and shorts. The referee decides the best course of action is a yellow card apiece, which is probably just about right.
GOAL! AC Milan 3-0 Lazio (Pazzini)
Pazzini puts the result beyond any doubt with his second goal of the match. The striker reacted quickly after a poor touch from Radu, sending home a low swerving shot past Marhcetti from 20 yards. Radu failed to switch on after that altercation with Boateng and as a result his team are dead and buried tonight.
Milan continue their relentless assault on goal as Pazzini is presented with a quick chance to claim a hat trick. The forward has time to watch a floated cross but can't connect properly with a volley, which sprays well wide of the target. Lazio want the full-time whistle as soon as possible.
SUBSTITUTION: Milan decide to withdraw Pazzini, who must settle for two goals tonight. On comes exciting young Frenchman M'Baye Niang.
CHANCE! El Shaarawy has just turned a shot wide from point-blank range. The striker has tried to curl his effort round Marchetti from a tight angle and got his attempt wrong. Quite how he managed to completely miss the target from there is anyone's guess.
SUBSTITUTION: Lazio have well and truly thrown the towel in now The Blues have a Europa League clash with Stuttgart on Thursday and decide to swap Hernanes for Ederson.
SUBSTITUTION: Milan make their final change and bring on the forgotten man Robinho. He is introduced for Boateng, who was a constant thorn in Lazio's side throughout the first 60 minutes.
SUBSTITUTION: Lazio continue the wave of changes by swapping Floccarri for Louis Saha. A damaged limitation exercise this may be but the French striker gets a chance to play valuable minutes in a bid for match sharpness.
Yepes does brilliantly to intercept Ederson's pass to Saha. That just about sums up Lazio's night so far, they have been beaten to the punch in all areas by a rampant Milan side.
On this evidence Milan can go to the Camp Nou in two weeks full of confidence. Abate has been persistent at full-back and continues his fine work by bombing past the Lazio back four, but his cross is cut out by a late lunging clearance from Dias.
SHOT! Niang goes within inches of scoring his first Milan goal as his drive strikes the crossbar. Lazio were on the attack just a minute before but were caught on the counter after sending numbers forward for a corner.
YELLOW CARD! Yepes is booked for a needless lunge on Ederson just outside the area. That challenge was wild and fully deserved a booking.
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Saha decides to take and sends a casual effort down the centre of goal, which is easily saved by Abbiati.
Lazio pump one final ball into the box but Lulic can only send a diving header well wide of the far post.
FULL-TIME AC Milan 3-0 Lazio
And there we have it. In the end AC Milan strolled to a 3-0 win that takes them above Lazio to third place in Serie A. The game was shaping up nicely before Candreva's red card, which effectively ended the match as a contest early on.
Milan's march up the table shows no sign of slowing down, make that ten wins in their last 11 league games for Allegri's men. That victory has blown the race for Champions League qualification in Italy wide open. Inter Milan, Fiorentina and even Catania are all still in with a legitimate shot of finishing in the top three.
That just about brings an end to our coverage from the San Siro this evening. Thanks for joining us at Sports Mole, look forward to having you with us again very soon. Goodnight!
