A blockbuster contest between top-four hopefuls Inter and second-placed Lazio at Giuseppe Meazza will launch Sunday’s rich Serie A program. The stakes could not be higher as both teams fight tooth and nail to secure Champions League qualification for next season.
Despite coming into this round as the only Italian club still competing on three different fronts, there isn’t much Inter can be proud of in Serie A. Simone Inzaghi’s men commence this round two points below the top-four pace in spite of last weekend’s 3-0 demolition of Empoli in Tuscany and cannot afford a setback here.
After losing three straight home league outings by an identical 1-0 scoreline, every game until the end of the season is a must-win for Inter. But they can draw confidence from following their Champions League semi-final progression with a 2-1 aggregate win over fierce rivals Juventus in the Coppa Italia semi-finals.
Federico Dimarco’s early strike fired the Nerazzurri to a crunch 1-0 home win in midweek cup action, which could settle fans’ nerves ahead of Lazio’s visit. Maurizio Sarri’s side succumbed to a stomach-wrenching 1-0 home defeat to mid-table Torino last weekend, waving goodbye to a supreme eight-match unbeaten run in Serie A (W7, D1).
But with seven points separating them from sixth-placed Inter at the start of this round, Lazio could make a giant step toward securing their first top-four finish since 2019/20 with a win at Meazza. Unfortunately for the Biancocelesti supporters, that could be daunting, considering they have lost their last three away meetings with the Nerazzurri in Serie A.
While they’ve not enjoyed their recent visits to Inter, the visitors still have a significant source of inspiration. It’s been 15 years since Lazio last qualified for the Champions League, so motivation should not be in short supply in the traveling camp.
Match Preview
Inter
As far as Inter’s home form in Serie A is concerned, it cannot get any worse. Inzaghi’s men are responsible for losing three consecutive top-flight games at Meazza without scoring for the first time in the club’s history. Another defeat would complete their worst losing home league streak in the 21st century.
Desperate to avoid that unwanted feat, Inter will rely on their superb home form against Lazio. Those three abovementioned home triumphs in a row form part of an incredibly formidable overall H2H record as hosts (W46, D29, L11). On the downside, Inzaghi’s side found themselves on the receiving end of a 3-1 scoreline in the reverse fixture in August.
Player to Watch: Lautaro Martinez
Martinez has been unfathomably quiet recently, but it’s worth noting that only Lazio’s Ciro Immobile (57) has netted more Serie A goals than him (53) in the last three seasons. The Argentine is one strike away from becoming the third Inter player to tally 15+ league goals in three straight seasons in the past 55 years.
Lazio
Following a comprehensive victory in the reverse H2H, Lazio could complete their first Serie A double over Inter since the 2012/13 season. Not even the bravest Nerazzurri fans would put it past Sarri’s team to hit that milestone. A quick look at the visitors’ seven-game league form on hostile turf (W5, D2) indicates there’s much the Biancocelesti can hope for in Lombardy.
Defensive solidity has been Lazio’s trademark this season. In addition to setting an unprecedented record in the club’s history by going five successive Serie A travels without capitulating, they boast the joint-best tally of 21 goals conceded in Europe’s top-five leagues alongside runaway La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Player to Watch: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
Sought-after Milinkovic-Savic could celebrate a career-defining achievement on Sunday. With 54 goals and 45 assists to his name, the household midfielder is one goal contribution away from being involved in 100 Serie A goals. On top of that, he’s scored five times against Inter.
Team News
Despite an exhausting fixture schedule, Inter have managed to stay injury free ahead of this game. Barring long-term absentee Milan Skriniar, who may not appear for the Nerazzurri again, Inzaghi has the remainder of his squad fit for this high-stakes encounter.
Likewise, Lazio will take this trip without a single injury or suspension setback after Danilo Cataldi served a one-game ban against Torino last time out.
Inter vs Lazio Potential Lineups
Inter (3-5-2): Andre Onana; Alessandro Bastoni, Stefan de Vrij, Francesco Acerbi; Denzel Dumfries, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Federico Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Romelu Lukaku.
Lazio (4-3-3): Ivan Provedel; Elseid Hysaj, Patric, Alessio Romagnoli, Adam Marusic; Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Matias Vecino, Luis Alberto; Felipe Anderson, Ciro Immobile, Mattia Zaccagni.
Inter vs Lazio Prediction
Despite Inter’s recent scoring woes at Meazza, this promises to be an action-packed contest. Each of the last six top-flight meetings between these sides has seen both teams on the scoresheet, highlighting the potential for a goal-glutted affair.
But we suspect a share of the spoils could be the order of the day.
Prediction: Draw
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