Read a preview and watch a live stream of Milan vs Lazio…
Where: San Siro, Milan.
When: Sunday August 31, 17:00.
Watch live: Click here to watch on BT Sport online!
AC Milan begin life under Pippo Inzaghi with a difficult home encounter with Lazio, and with Mario Balotelli moving on to pastures new, it remains to be seen how the Rossoneri fare without him.
With no European football to consider for the first time in 17 years, Milan will be fully focused on improving on their disappointing showing in Serie A last season.
Finishing in eighth place and 45 points adrift of champions Juventus, it clearly wasn’t good enough for a club of their stature and both Massimiliano Allegri and Clarence Seedorf paid the price with their jobs.
Milan now look to former striker and youth team coach Inzaghi to inspire the senior squad this season, and having lost the likes of Balotelli, Kaka and Robinho, it will be up to a new-look team to help him succeed.
The Rossoneri have addressed their defensive problems with the acquisitions of Diego Lopez, Adil Rami, Alex and Pablo Armero, while Jeremy Menez will provide threat in the attacking third.
However, Stephan El Shaarawy will hope to emerge as the real star of this team moving forward, with new signing Fernando Torres set to join the party in the second round of fixtures.
As for the visitors, they also have a new Coach in the form of Stefano Pioli, with new signings such as Marco Parolo and Stefan de Vrij hoping to impress in their debut seasons with the Biancocelesti.
Miroslav Klose will still be the big threat in attack, but Italian international Antonio Candreva continues to improve and will be a source of creativity down the right flank.
These two teams played out a 1-1 draw in the corresponding fixture last season, but with new Coaches, systems and players, it remains to be seen who is capable of starting off on the front foot and taking the initiative.
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