GdS: Milan to be backed by over 10,000 fans and Cardinale’s presence vs. Lazio

The match against Lazio tonight at the Stadio Olimpico will feel like a home game for AC Milan, and not just because of Gerry Cardinale’s presence.

La Gazzetta dello Sport recall that Milan’s last performance at the Olimpico against Lazio didn’t bring back particularly pleasant memories. It was precisely during that defeat – on March 15 – that began a downward spiral for the Rossoneri that would definitively erase not only their Scudetto ambitions, but also their Champions League qualification.

That match was also remembered because the Biancocelesti fans, for that one occasion only, decided to break their home-going strike and showed up en masse to the stadium. From around 5,000 at previous matches, the attendance jumped to 55,000.

The Rossoneri supporters blamed the twinning between Lazio and Inter fans as one of the reasons for the boycott being called off. This time, things should be very different.

Home-field advantage (almost)

This time, the Olimpico is set to be mostly red and black. The away section has sold out, with 5,100 tickets sold. Milan has therefore requested and obtained the opening of another adjacent section of the stadium for their supporters, which is still on sale.

Considering that there will presumably be fans in other areas of the stadium as well, the Rossoneri attendance at the Olimpico can be estimated at around 10,000. It’s more difficult to estimate the proportion of home fans, who intend to continue their home protest regardless of the results.

The Lazio-Genoa match on August 30th had an attendance of 6,058, so considering the lure of the Milan match, it’s reasonable to expect a bit more. Lazio’s Curva Nord announced they will ‘escort’ the team from Formello to Ponte Milvio and then not enter the stadium.

Not only will Milanisti outnumber their opponents, the team will also have Gerry Cardinale. The RedBird Capital number one will be present at the Olimpico, making it four games out of four he will have attended.