Serie A 2011/2012 Preview: AC Milan vs. Lazio, Round 2

Yes, by a technicality this is round two of the Serie A. However, seeing as we Italian fans have not yet been treated to that aura surrounding match day one and all the speculation in 2011/2012, we shall consider this our match day one. What a way to kick things off in Italy this year! AC Milan vs Lazio, two great sides both ready to go. With so many great players on the pitch at one time we can be sure that the opening match of the Italian Serie A will be an action-packed affair.

AC MILAN

AC Milan are coming into the Serie A on the back of some solid pre-season form. Although they finished last in the TIM Cup (Juventus and Inter also), they played some great attacking football, as well as having the chance to show off some of their new signings. Conversely, they won the Berlusconi Trophy (vs Juventus), in a tight affair against the Bianconeri. In the end Massimo Allegri was able to get a number of key combinations right, and prove that AC Milan could do it without Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Form aside, AC Milan also had a mixed time in the transfer market. The defending Serie A champions only spent €600,000 on new players. However in doing this they secured Alberto Aquilani and Antonio Nocerino, both of which will be great additions to an already strong squad. Having said that, they did lose the services of Andrea Pirlo to Juventus, and it will be a real test to see how Milan cope without him.

All in all, Allegri will have to choose a squad that ensures that Milan will have a fresh squad to travel to Barcelona for their Champions League clash. Already absent are the faces of Mark van Bommel, Robinho, Taye Taiwo and Philippe Mexes all out through injury.

Expect Milan to adopt their usual formation, with Aquilani likely to start instead of Gattuso: (4-3-1-2): Abbiati; Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta; Aquilani, Ambrosini, Seedorf; Boateng; Pato, Ibrahimovic

Lazio

Seemingly skipped over by the media, Lazio had a stellar transfer campaign. Even though they lost the services of playmaker Mauro Zarate to Inter Milan, Lazio signed experienced forwards Djibril Cisse and Miroslav Klose, both of whom are fit and ready to go for the clash against AC Milan.

Brazilian Hernanes was also kept at the club after much interest from European giants, and overall Lazio have built a squad which will definitely allow them to challenge for Europe, possibly pushing for a top four position. An early test against defending champions AC Milan will ultimately determine whether they have what it takes to match it with the big guns of Italy.

Dias and Biava will be the centre back pairing. If you cast your mind back to last season Andres Dias was one of Lazio's strongest performers, and similar form this season will surely not go astray. Lazio will also have to balance European duties, and may just alter their squad to ensure that they can also fire in their European fixtures.

Edoardo Reja will have to do without the likes of Giuseppe Sculli, Marius Stankevicius and Federico Marchetti. They will play to the strengths of their two experienced front men Cisse and Klose. (4-2-3-1): Bizzarri; Konko, Biava, Dias, Radu; Ledesma, Brocchi; Mauri, Hernanes, Cisse; Klose.

What a way to kick off the Italian Serie A! AC Milan vs Lazio. With both teams looking to build on last season's exceptional performances, expect both teams to play with real intensity.

Who will win? What is your score prediction? Let me know in the comments below.

Enjoy the match.