Soccer-Stuttering Milan look to end winless run at Lazio

Soccer Football - Italian Super Cup - Final - AC Milan v Inter Milan - King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - January 18, 2023 AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli before the match REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri

(Reuters) - Coach Stefano Pioli will be hoping the slump AC Milan are going through on all fronts is a mere blip rather than an ominous sign that the champions' grip on the Serie A title is all but over when they take on Lazio on Tuesday.

Defeats in the Coppa Italia and Italian Supercup in the space of eight days, along with two successive draws in Serie A, means the club has been on a four-match winless run in all competitions, which Pioli hopes has not dented his team's confidence as they look to close the nine-point gap with leaders Napoli.