Lazio

3.04

• 
  14

  2

  3.00

  Federico Marchetti

  Produced the save of the match early in the first half, stopping Nocerino’s header from point blank range. Never looked uncomfortable dealing with Milan’s aerial game, and will take his clean sheet with some pride.

• 
  7

  4

  3.00

  Andrè Dias

  Ran about like a madman at times making crucial interceptions, but all his good work was almost undone with a handball in the box just after the restart that was somehow waved off by the referee. Pulled up shortly after with a hamstring injury, forcing him to leave the field for good.

• 
  8

  2

  3.00

  Giuseppe Biava

  Kept Ibrahimovic under wraps all night long, though at times with help from his teammates. Dominant in the air, and no slouch on the floor either. Thoroughly deserves the team clean sheet.

• 
  10

  3

  3.00

  Stefan Radu

  Strong out wide dealing with Robinho, El Shaarawy and whoever Milan decided to send down his flank. Did not venture forward much, but his task tonight was primarily defensive and one he executed well.

• 
  8

  2

  3.00

  Abdoulay Konko

  Spent the majority of the first half defending, but was a difference maker after the interval. Picked his times to get forward extremely well and, after testing Abbiati from range, played his part in the opener by picking out Rocchi on the edge of the area. A genuine threat out wide.

• 
  34

  4

  3.50

  Hernanes Top of the Match

  Alongside Lulic, the Brazilian was at the heart of what little Lazio created offensively. Had his fair share of cracks from distance and eventually came up with the goods with 10 minutes to go when his low shot found the corner of Abbiati’s net and sent his side on the way to victory.

• 
  9

  2

  3.00

  Matuzalem

  Booked early on for a hard challenge on El Shaarawy, and played with the handbrake on as a result as he appeared cautious when going into challenges. Had one or two decent attempts from distance as well.

• 
  9

  4

  2.50

  Alvaro Gonzalez

  Not much change out on the flanks for him tonight, so he spent most of his time providing cover for his teammates and tracking back.

• 
  49

  2

  3.00

  Senad Lulic

  On a night where Lazio’s gameplan was to soak up the pressure and hit Milan on the counter, the Bosnian winger functioned as a key outlet on the flanks. Never stopped running or trying to get in behind the defence and though his effort in the first half was sometimes futile, his hard work came through near the end. It was his overlapping run that set up Rocchi for the clincher, and his presence meant that the Milan back line was always kept honest.

• 
  9

  2

  3.00

  Cristian Ledesma

  Quietly influential, with a few incisive passes from midfield the catalyst for the majority of Lazio’s scant offensive moves. Did the dirt in the centre of the park as well, never shying away from contact or a challenge. A solid all round performance.

• 
  15

  2

  3.50

  Tommaso Rocchi

  Isolated and frustrated for much of the game, but came up trumps in the end. The skipper never let the fire in his belly go out, first seeing yellow for a heated protest to a no-call on a Lazio penalty appeal, before producing a fine finish to clinch the game with five minutes to go. Taken off to a raucous reception late on.

Substitutions

• 
  6

  2

  3.00

  Marius Stankevicius

  Played much of the second half after replacing the hamstrung Dias, and gave a decent account of himself in the centre of the Lazio defence.

• 
  5

  3

  0.00

  Antonio Candreva

  Late cameo off the bench with the game already wrapped up

• 
  5

  2

  0.00

  Antonio Rozzi

  Given two minutes to stretch his legs in garbage time

AC Milan

2.92

• 
  8

  23

  3.00

  Christian Abbiati

  Barely a meaningful save to make all match, but could have done better as he let Hernanes’ relatively tame effort past him.

• 
  16

  16

  3.00

  Alessandro Nesta

  For almost the entirety of the contest, the veteran defender did what he does best, intercepting danger expertly and providing cover for his team-mates. However, he may have been a tad slow in closing down Rocchi for the second Lazio goal.

• 
  20

  22

  3.00

  Djamel Mesbah

  Started the match strongly with some encouraging play on the left flank, but faded around the half hour mark and struggled to influence proceedings thereafter.

• 
  6

  21

  3.00

  Ignazio Abate

  Tussled and tangled with Lulic all game out on the flank. Gave an admirable showing in the first-half but finally ran out of gas towards the end, becoming rather lax in his positioning.

• 
  19

  11

  3.00

  Thiago Silva

  Had a solid game alongside Nesta, taking care of what little Lazio offered in the attacking third of the field. Somewhat fortunate to see a careless challenge in the area go unpunished.

• 
  18

  13

  2.50

  Mark van Bommel

  Gave a surprisingly restrained performance in the centre of midfield, and was more often the victim of a rough challenge than the aggressor. Functioned as a deep lying playmaker at times with some searching balls from his own half, but his team-mates failed to make anything of them. Withdrawn late on for Maxi Lopez

• 
  10

  19

  3.00

  Antonio Nocerino

  Looked to overlap often on the flanks, and his elusive runs from deep posed a few questions for the Lazio defence. Had what was probably Milan’s best opening of the night, with a close range header pushed wide by Marchetti. Plenty of effort, but not enough movement around him to breach the home backline.

• 
  9

  24

  3.00

  Massimo Ambrosini

  With Milan struggling to create much in the way of goalmouth action, the Rossoneri stalwart took it upon himself to make something happen with a few attempts from distance and some late runs into the box. However, nothing came of his effort and he was replaced shortly after the hour mark.

• 
  12

  31

  3.00

  Zlatan Ibrahimovic

  Tried to bully the Lazio defenders with his physical presence, as Milan often resorted to targeting him with long balls over the top. However, despite some decent hold-up play he was largely frustrated as very little of what he tried came off, which resulted in the wasting of a fair number of Milan attacks.

• 
  11

  31

  2.50

  Robinho Flop of the Match

  The Brazilian did not have a good time of it as Lazio stacked numbers inside their own half. He was crowded outside his comfort zone of attacking the space and forced into operating with his back to goal at times, which is never a good sign for his or Milan’s chances.

• 
  19

  25

  3.00

  Stephan El Shaarawy

  Involved in the controversial penalty incident at the start of the second half, as he was called for handball even though Dias had done the same immediately before in the same play. Otherwise, his contribution was negligible and he was taken off with about a third of the game to go.

Substitutions

• 
  12

  20

  3.00

  Clarence Seedorf

  Apart from one or two clever lofted balls forward, the Dutchman found the Lazio back line to be as stubborn as his teammates.

• 
  9

  17

  3.00

  Urby Emanuelson

  Came on alongside Seedorf, but failed to contribute much.

• 
  13

  16

  0.00

  Maxi López

  Sent two crosses into no man’s land and generally looked out of sync in his 10 minute cameo.