AC Milan 2-0 Lazio: Theo Hernandez stunner earns Rossoneri crucial win to keep top-four hopes alive

Updated 06/05/2023 at 15:18 GMT

AC Milan earned a crucial 2-0 win over top-four rivals Lazio to keep their hopes of Champions League qualification alive. Ismael Bennacer pounced for the opener before Theo Hernandez scored a stunning solo effort to double their lead before the break. Milan moved provisionally into fourth place, three points behind Lazio in second and above rivals Inter.

Milan-Lazio, Theo Hernandez in rete

Image credit: Getty Images

Theo Hernandez's extraordinary goal helped AC Milan cruise to a 2-0 victory over Lazio, but they will be sweating over the fitness of Rafael Leao ahead of Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg with city rivals Inter.

The Portuguese star left the field after 11 minutes after experiencing similar discomfort he became aware of in the warm-up. Although not in great pain, he is likely to face round the clock treatment in the hope of taking the field in midweek.

The injury did not curtail Milan in this match as four minutes later, their strangely listless opponents were dispossessed on the edge of their own box and Ismael Bennacer exchanged passes with Olivier Giroud before stretching to guide an effort home on the half-volley.

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Then came the moment of the match when, after being rolled the ball from goalkeeper Mike Maignan, Hernandez raced 70 yards towards the penalty area, before steadying himself an firing an effort which took a slight deflection off Alessio Romagnoli, leaving goalkeeper Ivan Provedel no chance.

The lead was never threatened and Milan return into the top four, at least temporarily, and are just three points behind their second-place opponents.

TALKING POINT

The man Milan least wanted to lose - Rosary beads will be worn among Rossoneri fans as they hope Rafael Leao will make a miraculous comeback to play against Inter in the Champions League semi-final in midweek. He left the field after just ten minutes having already twice tortured the left hand side of the Lazio defence. The word from the Milan camp was he felt discomfort before the game and still experiencing this early in the game decided against continuing.

Although he stretched despairingly for a ball Ivan Provedal beat him to, there was no despairing clutch of hamstring, thigh or groin afterwards. Nor a look of resignation. He was also not icing the injury while sat on the bench. Still, it would seem a leap of faith for him to start the game on Wednesday and surely Milan would rather him have one leg with their star fully fit, than him hampered unable to use his characteristic acceleration.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Theo Hernandez (AC Milan) - Let's not pretend he is fit to lace the boots of the ultimate Milan left back watching in the stands, Paolo Maldini, but the Frenchman must be among the most unique talents to have played the position. His goal today was extraordinary but it came from the type of fifty yard-plus run, beginning at full back and ending in a central position outside the penalty area, he produces routinely during the season.

Roberto Carlos could ping cross-field balls for fun and bolt up and down the flank, but would be on a traditional route along the touchline. There have been right-footed left backs, which Theo Hernandez is not, such as Paul Breitner who would cut inside and playmake from the position, but none offering the attacking penetration the Milan number 19 offers running with the ball so quickly, direct and capable of brushing off defenders en route.

Granted, he usually has the benefit of having the cream of left-sided forwards in front of him in Rafael Leao at club level and Kylian Mbappe for France, but his run and goal today came after the Portuguese star had left the field and still Lazio could do nothing to curtail him - and he continued to be the most dangerous man on the field for the rest of the match.

PLAYER RATINGS

AC Milan: Maignan 6; Calabria 6, Tomori 6, Kjaer 6, Hernandez 8*; Krunic 7, Tonali 6, Bennacer 7; Leao 6, Messias 7, Giroud 7.

Subs: Saelemaekers 6, Kalulu 6, Thiaw 6, Rebic 6, Toure 6

Lazio: Provedel 6; Marusic 6, Casale 5, Romagnoli 5, Hysaj 6; Milinkovic-Savic 6, Antonio 6, Luis Alberto 6; Felipe Anderson 6, Zaccagni 5; Immobile 5.

Subs: Pedro 5, Basic 6, Pelegrini 6, Lazzari 6, Cancellieri 6.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

9' LEAO GOES OUTSIDE CASALE! The crowd raised their voice when he got the ball 35 yards from goal and he beat the Lazio centre back but his drag back was a little too hard and the visiting stopper dived forward to claim the ball.

11' LEAO COMES OFF! Bad news for spectators but even moreso Milan, who will desperately hope this is not a hamstring injury to keep him out for the rest of the season. Saelemaekers replaces him.

17' GOAL FOR MILAN! What a strange goal! Giroud would not let Lazio settle in their own box and they were made to pay for their dallying when Bennacer made a challenge on Anderson, the Frenchman gave the ball back to him and the ex-Arsenal man on the stretch half-volleyed home.

29' GOAL FOR MILAN! Theo Hernandez with a typical long diagonal run in with the ball from the left back position, then after a 70-yard run fires an effort which takes a slight deflection off Romagnoli and gives the goalkeeper now chance.

40' CHANCE FOR IMMOBILE! Hysaj got deep down the left flank and clipped a cross in but the Italian international's header almost went out for a throw in.

83' REBIC HAS BALL IN THE NET! He finished calmly waiting for Provedel to commit himself but the linesman's flag goes up straight afterwards.