SS Lazio will aim to keep their European hopes alive when they take on champions Inter Milan on Sunday.
As the Serie A season draws to a close, champions Inter Milan host Lazio at San Siro on Sunday evening for their final home game. While Inter have long since secured their 20th Scudetto and can relax, Lazio are still fighting for a spot in European competition next season.
Inter bounced back from a rare setback against Sassuolo with a resounding 5-0 victory over relegation-threatened Frosinone at Stadio Benito Stirpe. Lautaro Martinez, leading the Capocannoniere rankings, was among the scorers, bringing Inter’s goal tally to an impressive 101 for the season. This marks the fifth consecutive season that the Nerazzurri have hit the century mark in all competitions.
Simone Inzaghi’s men have amassed 92 points so far, and with two matches remaining, they have a chance to break the club’s record of 97 points set in the 2006/07 season. Defensively, Inter have been equally formidable, keeping 21 clean sheets – a club record for a Serie A season. Another shutout this week would see them equal the top-flight record held by AC Milan and Juventus.
While Inter’s domestic dominance has left rivals trailing, their UEFA Champions League campaign ended prematurely in the knockout stages, a stark contrast to last year’s final run. Inzaghi will aim to rectify that next season, but for now, his focus is on Lazio, who they defeated 2-0 in December. A win would complete their first league double over the Biancocelesti in seven years.
Lazio travel to Milan with trepidation, having lost their last four encounters at San Siro with a combined score of 9-3. Their away record this season has been modest, making the task of facing the champions even more daunting.
Despite these challenges, Lazio have enjoyed a resurgence under current coach Igor Tudor. After Maurizio Sarri’s departure, Tudor has guided Lazio to four wins in their last five matches, keeping them in touch with the top six. They have collected 16 points from seven matches, matching Inter and Atalanta, and only Bologna have conceded fewer goals during this period.
Lazio’s most recent outing saw them secure a 2-0 home win over Empoli, thanks to goals from Patric and Matias Vecino. However, facing Inter Milan at San Siro is a different proposition altogether.
With a place in European competitions still up for grabs, Lazio must overcome the formidable champions to bolster their chances. While Champions League qualification remains a distant possibility, securing a spot in one of UEFA’s lesser competitions is within reach and would be a significant achievement considering their mid-season turmoil.
Sunday’s clash promises to be a compelling contest, with Inter looking to finish their stellar season on a high and Lazio fighting to ensure their European ambitions are realised. The Hard Tackle delves into the potential elevens and tactics for this highly-anticipated clash.
Team News & Tactics
Inter Milan
The Nerazzurri head into their final home match of the season with an almost full squad, with the only potential absentee being former Lazio defender Francesco Acerbi, who remains a doubt due to injury. Simone Inzaghi, who rested several key players in the victory over Frosinone, is expected to field his strongest available XI against Lazio on Sunday.
Inzaghi has an otherwise fully-fit squad and should go with his preferred 3-5-2 formation on the day. Yann Sommer should return to the starting XI in goal behind the back three of Benjamin Pavard, Stefan de Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni.
Matteo Darmian and Federico Dimarco should provide the width with the trio of Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglou, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan holding fort in the middle of the park. Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez should lead the line for Inter Milan against Lazio, with the latter keen to end a three-game run without a goal.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, de Vrij, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
SS Lazio
Igor Tudor faces a selection dilemma concerning his goalkeeper. Ivan Provedel has recovered from his injury and is available for selection. However, his deputy, Christos Mandas, has performed admirably in his absence, making it a tough decision for Tudor.
Additionally, Tudor must make an enforced change in the defense. With Alessio Romagnoli suspended, either Nicolo Casale or Mario Gila is expected to step in as his replacement. Lazio are likely to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation against Inter Milan, with Mandas in goal. He should be protected by a back three of Patric, Nicolo Casale, and Elseid Hysaj.
Daichi Kamada and Matteo Guendouzi should start in central midfield, with Manuel Lazzari and Adam Marusic out on the wings. Felipe Anderson will commemorate his 250th appearance in Serie A alongside Mattia Zaccagni, providing ammo for veteran striker Ciro Immobile.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Mandas; Patric, Casale, Hysaj; Lazzari, Kamada, Guendouzi, Marusic; Anderson, Zaccagni; Immobile
Key Stats
- Victory on the day will see Inter Milan do the league double over Lazio for the first time since 2016/17.
- A win on the day will see Inter Milan notch three consecutive league wins over Lazio for the first time since 2010.
- Lazio are winless away to Inter Milan at the Giuseppe Meazza since 2019.
- Inter Milan are chasing a fifth straight win at the Giuseppe Meazza against Lazio.
- A win on Sunday will keep Inter Milan on course for 98 points this season, a new Serie A record.
- Keeping a clean sheet on the day will see Inter Milan equal AC Milan and Juventus’s record off 22 shutouts in a single Serie A campaign.
Player to Watch
Luataro Martinez
The Inter Milan skipper is their chief goal getter and is on course to secure the Serie A golden boot as the Nerazzurri get set to take on Lazio. The Argentine has struck a solid partnership alongside Marcus Thuram and will once again hope to get the better of the opposition defence.
Martinez is a difficult player to keep quiet and will certainly take some stopping. As long as he starts the game on the front foot, the result should be a foregone conclusion.
Prediction
Inter Milan 3-1 SS Lazio
While Lazio can pack a punch on their day, Inter Milan have the upper hand in terms of quality and depth. More so, having rested players against Frosinone, Inzaghi can call upon his stars who will have benefited from the rest. The Hard Tackle predicts a comfortable 3-1 win for the Nerazzurri on the night.
