Lazio vs AC Milan

Lazio take on AC Milan in matchday four of the Serie A regular season on 12 September 2026. Two of Italy’s unbeaten sides go head-to-head as Gennaro Gattuso’s injury-ravaged hosts welcome a buoyant Milan outfit managed by Ruben Amorim.

Team News and Injury Latest

Gattuso is navigating a severe selection crisis, with his squad pared down to the bone in midfield. Nicolò Rovella has been ruled out for up to 40 days with a calf injury, joining Fisayo Dele-Bashiru on the treatment table. Danilo Cataldi requires additional time to recover from a recent setback following groin surgery. The absences do not stop there for the hosts; Adam Marusic, Luca Pellegrini, Patric, and Alessio Furlanetto are also unavailable. Deadline-day arrival Albert Gudmundsson, who joined from Fiorentina, is expected to continue his integration from the bench.

For the visitors, preparations took a hit when centre-back Matteo Gabbia was forced to leave training early. The defender is struggling with an ankle injury and has been ruled out of this clash. However, Amorim has reinstated Fikayo Tomori to the first-team squad, providing crucial defensive cover. Further forward, Milan could hand debuts to summer arrivals Omari Hutchinson—signed on loan from Nottingham Forest—and Diego Moreira, both of whom have impressed in training.

Unbeaten Starts and Form Guide

Both clubs have enjoyed unblemished starts to their respective domestic campaigns. Lazio boast a perfect record so far, demonstrating defensive solidity alongside clinical finishing, securing narrow victories such as their recent 1-0 triumph over Genoa. Gattuso has drilled his side well, although the mounting injury list threatens to derail their early momentum.

AC Milan arrive in equally impressive form, having won all their early Serie A fixtures under Amorim's guidance. The Portuguese tactician has rejuvenated the side's attacking patterns, with Alexis Saelemaekers earning a man-of-the-match award in a recent domestic outing. Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system has proved difficult to unpick, and Milan will view this fixture as an opportunity to cement their place at the summit of the table.

Key Battle: Adapting the Engine Room

The outcome of this fixture is likely to be decided in the middle of the park, where Lazio must completely restructure their setup. With Rovella missing, Reda Belahyane is tipped to operate as the deep-lying playmaker, slotting in between Kenneth Taylor and Davide Frattesi. Gattuso has even tested teenager Adrian Przyborek as a makeshift regista in training to ensure he has alternative options.

They will need to command a congested midfield against Amorim’s fluid Milan side. If Belahyane can dictate the tempo and shield his heavily rotated backline, Lazio can stifle Milan's creative wide players, including the lively Saelemaekers and potential debutant Hutchinson. Should Milan's press overwhelm the hosts' makeshift engine room, the visitors will dictate the flow of the match.

Both sides will look to carry their positive momentum through the autumn schedule. A victory for either club would send a strong message to their title rivals before the next string of domestic and continental fixtures demands even deeper squad rotation.