We must win against Lazio - Ignazio Abate

We must win against Lazio - Ignazio Abate

AC Milan midfielder Ignazio Abate has identified Sunday's match against out-of-form Lazio as an ideal opportunity to build on their recent revival.

Milan recovered from a stuttering start to be one of the form teams in Italy in October, going unbeaten through the month in Serie A, while they have also claimed four points in back-to-back Champions League games against big-spending Real Madrid.

Sunday's match pitches them against another under-performing team in the shape of Lazio, who have managed just two league wins in 11 matches this season.

Abate told the Milan Channel: "We must go to the Olimpico to try and bring home the three points.

"We're fine. We're playing good football, we want to improve further our league position.

"Maybe Lazio are not in their best moment, but on the pitch the teams go on to give their best, they will do so, but we will do so too."

Abate has urged the Rossoneri fans to get behind goalkeeper Nelson Dida.

The Brazilian, in the team as Christian Abbiati and Marco Storari are both injured, courted headlines for the wrong reasons with a prominent gaffe in their 3-2 Champions League win at the Bernabeu last month.

Since then, though, he has improved and Abate believes it is time for everyone to get behind the error-prone stopper.

He added: "With regards to Dida, I say that the mistakes which happened to him in Madrid are made by everyone, only that when it happens to a goalkeeper there's no team-mate who can make up for it.

"But Nelson proved straight away, in that same game and the one after, that he is still a great goalkeeper."

Abate himself has had an eventful few weeks, picking up an ankle injury against Roma before seeing red in a 2-2 draw at Napoli 10 days ago.

He was on the bench for this week's game against Madrid.

"I'm fine," he said. "I'm recovering from the injury to the ankle which I picked up against Roma.

"I was hoping to return sooner after healing, but instead I'm training regularly only now."

Milan's poor start means they are now nine points behind city rivals Inter, but coach Leonardo is happy with how his side have bounced back

"We have found our balance," said Leonardo. "The team has grown in terms of confidence and self-belief.

"The maturity of my players has been important to overcome the initial problems we faced this season."

Lazio are desperate for the sort of recovery Milan have had, but that looks some distance away after a 4-1 humbling by Villarreal in the Europa League on Thursday.

Lazio were 3-0 down after just 14 minutes with a man sent off at El Madrigal as everything conspired to go against them.

There is speculation coach Davide Ballardini could now be fighting for his job, with Sinisa Mihajlovic reportedly waiting in the wings.

For Sunday's game, Julio Cruz is likely to miss out with a thigh problem, while Ousmane Dabo is also injured.

Milan will be without Gennaro Gattuso, who picked up a muscle tear in training on Wednesday and is set to be out for two weeks.