Milan-Lazio: 2-0 - Serie A 2021/2022. Final result and commentary from the game

Where the match is played:
Stadium: Giuseppe Meazza
City: Milano
Capacity for: 80074 people17:33

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Serie A clash between Milan and Lazio at San Siro!17:33

Something must give today, as two sides with perfect league records meet in Milan. The Rossoneri host their capital counterparts at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, with both seeking a win to top the Serie A table.17:34

Milan have lost only one of their 31 home league games against Lazio since 1990 - including last year's 3-2 stoppage-time win - so precedent will certainly be on their side today, as they attempt to leapfrog city rivals Inter in the early standings.17:38

MILAN (4-2-3-1): Mike Maignan; Davide Calabria, Alessio Romagnoli, Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Sandro Tonali, Franck Kessie; Alessandro Florenzi, Brahim Diaz, Rafael Leao; Ante Rebic.18:24

SUBS: Ciprian Tatarusanu, Fode Ballo-Toure, Matteo Gabbia, Pierre Kalulu, Simon Kjaer, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Ismael Bennacer, Samu Castillejo, Alexis Saelemaekers, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Daniel Maldini, Pietro Pellegri.18:24

LAZIO (4-3-3): Pepe Reina; Adam Marusic, Luiz Felipe, Francesco Acerbi, Elseid Hysaj; Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Lucas Leiva, Luis Alberto; Pedro, Ciro Immobile, Felipe Anderson.18:17

SUBS: Marius Adamonis, Thomas Strakosha, Manuel Lazzari, Patric, Stefan Radu, Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, Toma Basic, Danilo Cataldi, Gonzalo Escalante, Raul Moro, Mattia Zaccagni, Vedat Muriqi.18:22

The much anticipated return of Ibrahimovic to the Milan bench has drawn much attention, but recent signings Florenzi, Pellegri and Bakayoko are also involved today - with the former earning a start in midfield. Rade Krunic picked up an injury on international duty, so misses out for the home side, while Giroud has recovered from COVID-19 but has yet to rejoin full training and will instead return for the Champions League match against Liverpool. 18:16

Lazio have two first-team regulars recovered and ready to serve at San Siro, as both Lazzari and Luiz Felipe have both been passed fit for the trip north, though Lazzari must be content with a place on the bench, as Marusic deputises at right-back. Up front, top scorer Ciro Immobile leads an attacking triumvirate also featuring Pedro and Felipe Anderson.17:59

The players and officials are now ready, with kick-off just moments away!18:01

We are under way at San Siro!18:03

Leao is brought down on the left wing, earning Milan a free-kick in dangerous territory.18:04

Diaz is now hauled to the ground, offering Tonali a set-piece opportunity some 35 yards from goal. He opts to work it out wide, but Leao's cross is met at the wrong angle by Tomori, who heads over.18:07

Lazio are trying to establish a foothold in the game, keeping the ball neatly amid the cacophonous surrounds of San Siro - the fans are in full voice!18:08

Hernandez skews a speculative effort well wide from outside the area.18:10

A clash of heads brings proceedings to a halt, with Immobile and Romagnoli both going down clutching their faces. After a brief splash of magic water, the pair are up and ready to rejoin the action.18:12

Testing the Milan defence with his willing running, Immobile is caught just offside as he runs onto a Luiz Felipe throughball.18:14

The merest sniff of an opening is quashed by a Lazio body blocking Calabria's driven attempt from outside the centre of the box. 18:15

There is concern over Tonali, who is clutching the back of his knee. It looks like Bennacer has been sent to warm up, as the Italy international is helped off the pitch. 18:16

Lively in the opening exchanges, Leao works a yard of space on the left side of the area, but wildly slashes his effort well over the bar and into the packed Curva.18:19

Lazio's first real chance arrives, as Milinkovic-Savic flicks a header straight at Maignan, who takes a step back to pluck the Serb's effort out of the air.18:20

Marusic picks up the first booking of the match, for a rugged challenge on Hernandez.18:21

Celebrating his sliding tackle as if he had just scored the winner, Luiz Felipe takes out Hernandez, who then hobbles back onto the pitch following some treatment.18:24

Though they haven't come particularly close yet today, Lazio have scored nine times in their first two league games - a record for the Biancocelesti in Serie A.18:26

Rebic plays in Calabria at the far post, but the full-back thumps his shot wide of the target, as Milan up the tempo again.18:27

Rarely renowned for his accuracy, Leao misfires with another attempt, as his header from the left side of the six-yard box just misses to the left.18:28

Pedro is the latest Lazio man to bring down Milan's flying full-back Hernandez, who earns another free kick - and more bruises - for his efforts.18:32

Diaz and Tonali are becoming more prominent, as both are involved in a Milan move which ends in anti-climax when Leao floats an aimless ball into the waiting gloves of Reina.18:34

Milan started last season in Serie A with three wins, seven goals scored and none conceded. A win today would give the Rossoneri a similar start this term.18:37

Milinkovic-Savic cuts down Diaz on the left wing, but nothing accrues from the resulting free-kick.18:38

Romagnoli dives into to block an effort at goal from just inside the hosts' box, as Immobile is denied.18:39

A raised boot sees Diaz penalised after a challenge with Milinkovic-Savic, so Lazio have a central free-kick 30 yards from goal. They choose to play short and eventually Luis Alberto pops a tame shot into Maignan's hands. 18:42

A combination of some crushing challenges and a whistle-happy referee has seen this encounter break down into a series of set-pieces in the past 10 minutes. Tonali's latest effort, from the right wing, is headed to safety by Acerbi.18:44

Rebic makes enough contact to bring Lucas to the turf, but Lazio's free-kick ends up with the visitors overplaying and ultimately conceding possession.18:48

Rebic held both his run and his head to tidily lay the ball back to Leao, allowing the Portuguese striker to slot home the game's opening goal.18:50

Kessie claims a penalty after a clash of boots with Immobile in the Lazio box, and the referee is called over to the monitor!18:51

A penalty is awarded - Immobile caught Kessie's sole with an attempted clearance! The Ivorian will surely step up to take it.20:10

Reina is booked for protesting too vociferously about the penalty award.18:53

In the aftermath of the penalty decision, Luis Alberto is yellow-carded for his protests.19:22

PENALTY MISSED! After a staggered run-up, Kessie crashes his spot-kick off the bar! His header from the rebound doesn't threaten the net, so Lazio cling on to just a one-goal deficit at the break.18:56

HALF-TIME: MILAN 1-0 LAZIO18:56

With 11 attempts to Lazio's two, it is clear that - even without Ibrahimovic and Giroud - the home side are posing a far greater threat in the final third so far. Given their spectacular start to the Serie A season, it would have been reasonable to expect more from the Aquile's attack, but their emphasis on passing has sometimes seen them bogged down in central areas. Nonetheless, a last-gasp penalty miss means that Milan must work hard to repeat their efforts after the interval.19:00

A scrappy first half was illuminated only by events at the very end, as Milan took a deserved lead, but surely Maurizio Sarri will make changes at some point to help Lazio establish some much-needed rhythm in and around their opponents' box.19:04

After a brief delay, as Lazio wait patiently for Milan to re-emerge from the depths of San Siro, we are back under way! 19:10

Each Lazio attempt at breaking through is stonewalled by a resolute Milan defence, as Kessie's protection for Tomori and Romagnoli forms a formidable barrier.19:14

Relatively quiet so far today, Immobile has racked up four goals from his first two league outings this term and has also scored in each of his last three encounters with Milan.19:17

Milan work a training ground corner routine, but Florenzi's lofted cross to Tonali on the edge of the box is swiped well wide, as he tries to hit a 20-yard shot on the volley.19:20

Florenzi earns a free-kick just inside the Lazio half, as Milan coach Stefano Pioli issues Ibrahimovic with some instructions for his possible introduction.19:23

Tonali's influence has continued to grow and his charging run through the centre is unceremoniously halted by Hysaj, who is booked for pulling the Milan midfielder's shirt.19:24

A wave of applause cascades down from the stands, as Ibrahimovic readies himself to enter the fray!19:25

Milan make some changes now, with goalscorer Leao withdrawn for Ibrahimovic, who receives a warm welcome from the fans following a long injury lay-off.19:26

A solid shift comes to an end - though he may rue his penalty miss - as Kessie is replaced by Bakayoko for the final half-hour.19:27

Florenzi comes off, to be replaced on the right by Saelemaekers.19:28

'King Zlatan' is straight in on the action, as his run into the Lazio six-yard box is only ended by a close-range block, following a pass from Hernandez.19:29

Substitute Bakayoko clips Acerbi's ankle with a late challenge and is booked for his poor timing.19:36

Lazio alter their attack, as Felipe Anderson is substituted. New signing Zaccagni comes on.19:30

A change at right-back, as Marusic - on a booking - goes off and Lazzari is on, having recently recovered from injury.19:33

Ibra's comeback goal owes everything to the approach play of Rebic, who was also instrumental in the opener, after he cuts a precise ball back to create an unmissable chance.03:55

Bakayoko is penalised again - this time for a handball - but no further punishment is meted out by the referee. 19:37

Amid an eventful few minutes for the former Monaco midfielder, Bakayoko is brought down and requires some brief medical treatment.19:39

Having just picked up what looks like a minor knock, Bakayoko is replaced by Bennacer in midfield.19:40

Milinkovic-Savic has struggled to make his considerable presence felt, so Basic is brought on in his place.19:46

Rebic is now running riot, as he thunders down the left again and once more cuts back for Ibrahimovic, who is blocked off by an increasingly bedraggled Lazio rearguard. If there is to be a third goal, surely the hosts are favourites to grab it.19:43

A little rusty, perhaps, Ibrahimovic leans back when presented with a half-chance on the edge of the area and skies his shot well over Reina's crossbar.19:44

Milan's newly established playmaker Diaz comes off to warm applause, giving an opportunity to Ballo-Toure.20:15

Finally, a frustrated Immobile breaks free of his shackles and creates a half-yard of space to crack a low shot at the Milan goal from 15 yards out on the left. However, Maignan is equal to it and saves somewhat awkwardly with his legs.20:11

Sarri's last roll of the dice, as Pedro is now replaced by Moro.19:50

A rare Serie A blank for Immobile, as Muriqi replaces the Azzurri star up front for the final few minutes.19:50

Ibrahimovic combines with the on-rushing Hernandez, but the French full-back's eagerness to latch onto Ibra's pass causes him to bundle over Lazzari in its pursuit. Lazio are awarded a free-kick.19:54

Lazio's meagre attempts at a comeback amount to only a long-range pot-shot from Basic, which nestles safely in Maignan's hands. Milan are seeing this game out with relative ease.19:57

The visitors are reduced to chasing shadows, as Milan stroke the ball around confidently in their own defensive third.19:58

Lazio are losing with a whimper, having barely laid a glove on their opponents today. The final whistle is now just moments away.20:00

FULL-TIME: MILAN 2-0 LAZIO20:01

Back on top of the table for an hour or so at least, Milan controlled proceedings throughout what was expected to be a closely contested affair. Even a rare missed penalty from Kessie could not halt their momentum, as the Rossoneri joyously welcomed back their attacking talisman - with a predictable goal capping Ibrahimovic's second-half cameo. Following a fine start to the season against more modest opposition, it is now back to the drawing board for Sarri's Lazio.20:05

In a post-match melee, which saw the Lazio boss exchange heated words with both Saelemaekers and Ibrahimovic, Sarri was shown a red card by the referee, so will be stuck in the stands for the visit of Cagliari next week - pending an appeal. In between times, the Aquile meet Galatasaray in Europe, while Milan finally return to the Champions League with a mouthwatering match versus old rivals Liverpool.20:09

That's all from San Siro today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!20:09