Inter travel to the Stadio Olimpico to take on Champions League hopefuls Lazio on Sunday 10 May (kick off 20:45 CET), with a feeling of optimism after a 6 match unbeaten run.
Inter come into this game on the back of two wins against Roma (2-1) and Udinese (2-1) and an uneventful 0-0 draw against Chievo last weekend and with three of their next four matches coming against top half teams, Roberto Mancini will be very aware that getting into the top six will be difficult.
After the draw with Chievo and the other results from last weekend, Inter now sit 8th in the Serie A table, 2 points behind 6th place Sampdoria and 3 points behind 5th place Fiorentina in the race to qualify for the Europa League.
Lazio who after spending recent seasons on the outside looking in as other Italian sides challenged for success in Europe, are in a strong position to not just qualify for the Champions League, but to claim 2nd place in Serie A, which would see them enter the Champions League at the group stage.
Lazio currently sit 3rd in Serie A, 1 point behind Roma in 2nd but will be looking over their shoulders with Napoli 4 points behind the Biancoceleste. With Lazio’s last two fixtures being against Roma and Napoli, Stefano Pioli will want maximum points against Inter and Sampdoria next week before those last two matches.
Lazio come into this game on the back of a 1-1 draw against Chievo and a win against Parma (4-0) before last weekend’s disappointing 1-1 draw at Atalanta.
Here is the Inter team news and probable line up as reported by GDS:
Samir Handanovic keeps his place between the posts.
In central defence captain Andrea Ranocchia is a doubt because of a muscle strain. Juan Jesus is expected to be moved from left back to partner Nemanja Vidic although Mancini could go with Felipe.
On the flanks Danilo D’Ambrosio is expected to start on the right with Davide Santon at left back as Inter rotate because of the doubt on Ranocchia.
In midfield Gary Medel is expected to start alongside the inconsistent Fredy Guarin with three players competing for the last midfield place and at this stage 18 year old Assane Gnoukouri could get the nod ahead of Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic.
In the trequartista role Hernanes is expected to start against his former employers ahead of Xherdan Shaqiri.
Up top the Argentine duo of Mauro Icardi and Rodrigo Palacio are expected to start, leaving Lukas Podolski on the bench.
Probable Inter line up (subject to change): (4-3-1-2) Handanovic, D’Ambrosio, Vidic, Juan Jesus, Santon, Medel, Guarin (c), Gnoukouri, Hernanes, Icardi, Palacio.
Bench: Berni, Carrizo, Andreolli, Ranocchia, Felipe, Nagatomo, Di Marco, Kovacic, Brozovic, Podolski, Puscas, Shaqiri, Bonazzoli.
Some Stats:
In the earlier fixture this season on 21 December 2014, 2 goals from Felipe Anderson saw Lazio lead at half time but Inter came back for a 2-2 draw thanks to goals from Kovacic and Palacio.
Inter haven’t beaten Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico since 2 May 2010 when Inter won 2-0 with goals from Walter Samuel and Thiago Motta.
Lazio have won 5 of their last 6 matches at home in Serie A with at least 2 goals scored in each of them 5 wins.
Inter have 3 players that if booked will miss next weekend’s Derby D’Italia against Juventus. The players walking on eggshells are Hernanes, Palacio and Shaqiri.
Player to Watch: Hernanes – The Brazilian will be emotional returning to his former club, and his form has improved, and as we have seen countless times players tend to score when returning to face former clubs in their careers.
My Prediction: Lazio 2-2 Inter
Scorers: Candreva, Klose (Lazio), Hernanes, Vidic (Inter)
Officials: Referee: Davide Massa Assistants: Passeri, Di Fiore
Fourth Official: Musolino Additional Assistants: Domato, Condussio
Author’s Note: A match between two sides that still have a lot to play for. The pressure will be on Lazio to breakdown Inter who will probably play on the counter attack. I expect an exciting game with goals. Inter need a confident performance to boost their hopes ahead of the Derby D’Italia next weekend. Both teams won’t want to lose this game ahead of tough run ins and a draw would probably suit both teams.
Sampdoria win, its gonna be though even though we could wins agains lazio and juve. As long as its mathematically possible, i will keep believing.
Kova will start today.
Lazio vs Inter Milan
Live Streaming Video Football : Italy – Serie A
Sunday (10 May) 20:45 (GMT +2)Live HD TV: http://www.officialtvstream.com.es/passport/go.php?r=4768&i=l5
It won’t be easy but Inter need to give it all, we’re Inter! Match like these require ruthlessness and determination and i don’t care if they have to win it playing bad, its in Rome. Time like these we wonder why Inter cannot win against Chievo?
your prediction is very brave and doubtful…most likely it will be clear loss 1:0 or 2:0. lazio need the match as much as we need and we produced terrible performance in last two matches, that we are away team is also not in our side…5 years without win in olimpico is too much but right now we are not strong enought to break that curse.
are you rubentus fan!? why are you even here!?
No he isnt a Rubentus fan! And he is here because every Inter fan has a right to be here and write his or her thoughts, Stop this childish bullshits
glad to hear that, because this day, i can’t even tell the different betwen inter fan and rubentus fan.. they look almost the same this day.. always shitting on our player, coach and bla….
I get your point pal, These days arent the best for us and so many people are angry or anxious, Just hope we will have a shining season next year
we have to be patient, and keep supporting the player and the coach.. i have to wait more than a decate to see inter start to win again in mancini era.. before that in 1990-2004 we have a lot of world class player, from ronaldo, vieri roberto baggio, zamorano, and many more, yet we done almost nothing in that era.. so with player and the money we have now, i don’t realy surprise by the result.. we in the rebuilding process.. in this difficult time the fans should be more vocal in suporting the team.. i’m not saying that our player and our coach is the best, but an least we should respect their hardwork.. i hope next year we can get some reinforcement.. and then it’s not easy to sell our player.. 🙁
+1
There is no curse,we simply haven’t been good enough since 2010 that is it.Us inter fans need to stop blaming everything and everyone else and just concede that this team just isn’t good enough to bring anything in comparison to the squad of 2010.Our performances has nothing to do with Thohir being at the stadium,or a curse where we can’t win more than three on the bounce,nope has to do with the mediocre players we field and expect them to produce miracles.I know wearing an inter jersey can lift their play somewhat as they know how big the club is but come on,they are average at best apart from kovacic,Icardi and Handanovic I don’t see much development possible for them although Hernanes is looking pretty good and Shaqiri is still getting adjusted to conditions but time will tell.Point is doesn’t matter how long it has been,if the players are mediocre the results would be also,with that being said I think we might just pull it off actually If we can subdue Anderson then game on for me.#forzainter
You have good views, but just want to clarify what mo meant here: “we are not strong enough to break that curse”, which I don’t think his blaming the team inability to win for superstious reasons but more of saying that inter won’t break lazio record this year due to the weak squad available by our team.
Oh my bad then must have interpreted it wrong but I believe they can pull through if we fight and all players play at their utmost potential,hoping for a win
I’m predicting a loss or draw, but I hope for a win as always.
I want inter to get the best result, but this match isn’t even at San Siro, so I agree that most likely lazio will win this match.