The Eagles and the Devil dance in the Roman rain

If you enjoy tactical chess matches that occasionally break out into a game of "who can miss the most sitters," then Sunday at the Olimpico is your personal Christmas. SS Lazio, currently stagnating in 10th place with a mediocre 37 points, welcomes an AC Milan side that is technically in a title race but realistically just keeping the seat warm for Inter.

Lazio has spent most of this season perfecting the art of the 1-1 draw. With 10 stalemates already, they are less a football team and more a social club for men who enjoy splitting the bill. They sit exactly in the middle of the table, possessing all the ambition of a retired postman. If they want to salvage anything from this campaign, they need to stop playing like they have lead in their boots and start remembering that the goal is that big white rectangle at the end of the pitch.

On the other side, AC Milan arrives with 60 points and the hollow pride of being "the best of the rest." Being 8 points behind Inter is like being the second-fastest man in a race against a Ferrari—it is impressive, but nobody is giving you a trophy for it. Rafael Leao remains their primary source of hope and frustration in equal measure. He has 9 goals this season, but for every moment of magic, there are three where he looks like he is wondering if he left the oven on back in Lisbon.

Christian Pulisic and the boys will be looking to exploit a Lazio defense that has the structural integrity of a wet panino. But Rome is never easy, and the Biancocelesti have a habit of showing up for the big games just to remind everyone they still exist before disappearing back into the anonymity of the mid-table for another month.

Expect plenty of tactical fouling, a lot of shouting at the referee, and at least one moment where you contemplate switching to a documentary about snails.

SS Lazio 1 - 2 AC Milan