LAZIO starting XI (4-4-2): Provedel, Lazzari (subbed for Marusic), Patric, Romagnoli, Tavares (subbed for Hysaj), Tchaouna (subbed for Isaksen), Guendouzi, Rovella, Zaccagni, Dia (subbed for Dele Bashiru), Castellanos (subbed for Noslin)

Bench: Mandas, Furlanetto, Vecino, Castrovilli, Pedro

Goals: Castellanos 62’, Dia 66’

MILAN starting XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan, Emerson Royal (subbed for Theo Hernandez), Tomori, Pavlovic, Terracciano, Fofana, Reijnders (subbed for Musah), Chukwueze (subbed for Leao), Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, Okafor (subbed for Abraham)

Bench: Raveyre, Torriani, Calabria, Bartesaghi, Gabbia, Zeroli, Camarda, Cuenca

Goals: Pavlovic 8’, Leao 72’

New AC Milan coach Paulo Fonseca was hoping for a reaction when he benched three key players for a visit to Lazio in Serie A: Leao, Theo Hernandez and Davide Calabria.

The move led to a solid start by the Rossoneri, but the final result was a third straight game without a win.

Pavlovic broke the deadlock early with a strong header from a Christian Pulisic corner.

Castellanos made it 1-1 when he side-footed in an inviting cross by Nuno Tavares.

Tavares created Lazio’s second goal in a similar fashion, this time though his pinpoint ball into the boss found Boulaye Dia who had an easy finish.

Leao and Hernandez were sent on after Lazio’s two goals, with former Roma striker Tammy Abraham also entering the pitch for his Milan debut.

Abraham made an instant impact, laying the ball off for Leao to blast in a low shot that levelled the scores.

Leao and Hernandez then remained on the far side of the field during a cooling break - isolated from the rest of Milan’s squad.

Fonseca said Leao and Hernandez didn’t need to join the team for drinks because they had just come on minutes earlier.

“Let’s not create a problem, because there is no problem. The reaction from the players was good,” Fonseca said.

“When there’s a problem, I take responsibility but right now there’s no problem.”

Before kick-off, there was a tribute to former Lazio coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who died on Monday from pancreatic cancer.

A three-minute video of Eriksson’s years at Lazio was shown on the jumbo screens inside the Stadio Olimpico and a banner in the centre circle read, “Sven Goran Eriksson forever.”

Eriksson coached Lazio to the Serie A title in 2000 and also won a Cup Winner’s Cup with the Roman club.

Lazio wore black armbands for the game.

Milan now have two points from two draws and a loss. Lazio have four points.

AAP