LAZIO v AC MILAN
Coppa Italia
Tuesday 26th February 2019
Kickoff: 2000hrs
Pick: Under 2.5 goals
Bookmaker: Marathonbet
Odds: 1.88 (odds taken at 05:56 GMT, 26 Feb 2019)
The Coppa Italia has reached the semi-final stages and the first match we look ahead to is the clash between Lazio and AC Milan as the betting tips continue at the Stadio Olimpico with an important first leg being played on Tuesday night.
Coppa Italia Betting at Marathonbet
Lazio Prediction
Lazio haven’t made the best preparations for a cup semi-final as they’ve lost their last three matches on the trot in all competitions, having been defeated 1-0 at home and then 2-0 away to Spanish club Sevilla in the 1st and 2nd legs of the round of 16 in the Europa League, with a 2-1 loss at Genoa in-between times in Serie A.
Lazio will therefore be extremely keen to avoid a fourth defeat on Tuesday night in this first of two legs in the Coppa Italia, and will no doubt be keen to make the most of home advantage on Tuesday night in Rome.
The hosts currently occupy the last remaining Europa League qualifier spot in the Italian top flight as they sit in 6th place but they have the likes of Torino and Atalanta breathing down their necks. Home form in the league has seen Lazio lose just three games so far this season, while in the Coppa Italia, Lazio have progressed to this stage of the competition courtesy of wins over Serie B side Novara 4-1 and winning on penalties against Juventus in the previous round.
- Lazio have lost their last 3 matches on the trot in all competitions
- The previous 3 meetings between these two teams have resulted in under 2.5 goals
- AC Milan have lost just 2 of their last 11 away matches
AC Milan Prediction
AC Milan head into this semi-final 1st leg in solid form as the visitors have won five of their last seven matches in all competitions, which includes wins against Genoa, Cagliari, Atalanta and Empoli in Serie A, while in the Coppa Italia, AC Milan have recorded wins against Sampdoria 2-0 in extra-time, along with a 2-0 home win over Napoli.
It’s interesting to note that AC Milan have kept clean sheets in six of their last seven Coppa Italia ties, with the one exception being a heavy 4-0 defeat away at Juventus last season. Overall form away from home has been pretty steady though this term as the visitors have lost just twice on the road out of their last 11 matches in all competitions.
But switch to results away from home in the Coppa Italia and the return is not quite so convincing as they’ve won four, lost four and drawn one of their last nine away ties in the competition.
Betting Tips Verdict
The opening leg of most semi-finals is usually a tense and cautious affair with both teams reluctant to commit too many players forward for fear of chasing the game in the 2nd leg. I’m therefore confident we’ll see few goals in this 1st leg in Rome.
