5 things from AC Milan's disappointing stalemate with Lazio

Welcome to the 5 Things recap by theScore's Anthony Lopopolo, which highlights AC Milan's performances over the 2018-19 season. Here's a breakdown of Milan's 0-0 draw versus Lazio in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinal.

Milan unable to release Piatek

Milan tried to find Krzysztof Piatek on the run, but most of their long balls failed to reach the target. The first half was particularly frustrating to watch as an erratic series of events resulted in no shots on target. It was clear from the beginning that Milan wanted to play a vertical game, but they lacked the precision to make it work. Milan didn't fare much better after the interval, failing to generate a meaningful scoring chance, and they never seemed to have control. The second leg will require a much more concerted effort from the whole group - especially with the threat of an away goal looming.

Lazio win battle on the wings

Lazio had the most success on the wings, where Joaquin Correa often had the time and space to take on defenders and infiltrate the penalty area. Lazio's full-backs overran Milan in the first half, their combination play leaving Fabio Borini and Diego Laxalt stupefied on multiple occasions. Luckily for Milan, the hosts couldn't get the final pass right; Lazio's threatening runs never amounted to anything. Ciro Immobile and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic were too inaccurate to make a difference and too many plays ended up offside.

Suso struggles to get by defenders

Criticism of Suso is bound to intensify. He was an afterthought at the Stadio Olimpico, offering little more than a couple of crowd-pleasing shimmies in 73 minutes of football. Milan need Suso to do more than that. He's one of the few players in the squad with the capacity to take on defenders and create chances out of nothing, but he's too often phased out of the game. Teams have no problem double-teaming the Spaniard. It doesn't help when he loses the ball cheaply, as he did on several occasions in the Italian capital. It wouldn't be much of a concern if it was a rare off night, but Suso hasn't looked like his old self in a while.

Paqueta shows defensive qualities

It's easy to forget Lucas Paqueta has made 10 consecutive starts since joining Milan in January. He's been such a big part of midfield, contributing in both phases of play. But he was most impressive in his own end Tuesday, winning possession a handful of times and preventing a scoring chance with a last-ditch recovery. Contrary to the Brazilian stereotype, Paqueta is more substance than flair, and he's willing and able to help out his defenders. He uses his frame to outwork opponents and fights for every second ball. The fact that he faded in the second half wasn't a surprise. He deserves a break.

Romagnoli lives right on the edge

One of Alessio Romagnoli's greatest attributes is his anticipation, and he put that to the test against Lazio, frequently stepping up to intercept the ball. Although he was carded for one late challenge, his approach prevented Lazio from feeling comfortable on the break. Romagnoli didn't relent after the booking - even if it risked a sending-off. It was nerve-racking to watch the 24-year-old toe the disciplinary line, but he did it well.