AC Milan 0 Lazio 0: Hakan Calhanoglu misses sitter as Rossoneri keep out free-scoring Biancocelesti

AC MILAN and Lazio played out a 0-0 draw in a dour Coppa Italia semi-final first leg.

Italian football has changed it's image in recent years, with the emphasis switching more towards goal scoring than defending.

And Lazio are a great example of that, with 14 goals in their last four matches as Simone Inzaghi has introduced a vibrant, attacking style of play at the Stadio Olimpico.

However, they were kept at bay by a diligent Milan side, who should have taken the lead in the second half.

This was a meeting of the past two Coppa Italia finalists and the only two sides to prevent Juventus winning a domestic trophy since Massimiliano Allegri took over — with Lazio following in the Rossoneri's footsteps by beating the Bianconeri in the Supercoppa Italiana.

Milan were hammered 4-1 at the Stadio Olimpico earlier in the campaign.

But came into this match with confidence after producing arguably their best performance of the season to the Biancocelesti 2-1 at the weekend.

However, none of it was evident here as they registered just two shots in the first half.

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Gennaro Gattuso's men were extremely cagey, with free-scoring Lazio looking far more threatening.

It was only in the final 20 minutes, when both sides began to create any real chances.

Ciro Immobile and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic both saw efforts saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, but Milan came into it towards the end.

Hakan Calhanoglu was presented with a glorious opportunity following a parry from Thomas Strakosha, but blazed his effort over the bar from ten yards out.

Lazio will now fancy their chances to progress in the second leg, despite failing to net that all-important away goal.

The winners will face either Juventus or Atalanta in the final.