Inter travelled to the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Sunday night to face Lazio knowing that a win could keep their slim chances of Champions League football alive as well as securing Europa League qualification to the group phase.
Roberto Mancini started arguably his strongest line-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Handanovic in goal, D’Ambrosio at right back beside Miranda and Murillo with Nagatomo at left back.
Kondogbia and Medel played as a double-pivot in midfield with Brozovic on the right and Perisic on the left with Jovetic behind Icardi.
Lazio started in a 4-3-3 of Marchetti in goal behind a back-line of Basta, Bisevac, Gentiletti and Konko. In midfield were Onazi, Biglia and Lulic with a front three of Candreva, Klose and Keita.
Lazio had won four of their last seven home games before this while Inter had only won one of their last eight away matches.
The match started poorly for the Nerazzurri as the Aquile took the lead after just seven minutes. Klose completed a one-two with Lulic before sitting Handanovic on his backside, chipping over the Slovenian. It was poor by Murillo who chased out to Lulic leaving the space in behind.
Inter struggled to get going with Candreva in particular giving Nagatomo nightmares down the Nerazzurri’s left with the Italian volleying wide from a Basta cross. However, Inter were almost back in the game on 27’ when Jovetic fired straight at Marchetti after a Kondogbia dink over the top with Handanovic saving from Candreva on the counter from a 25 yard shot.
The Nerazzurri were committing defensive suicide, with Handanovic again saving this time from Keita after a Miranda mistake. Inter did create a great opportunity before the break with Kondogbia playing a give-and-go with Jovetic, but the Frenchman’s shot was well blocked by Gentiletti.
Ten minutes into the second half Mancini made his first change, taking off defensive midfielder Medel for the more attacking Biabiany in an attempt to give the side more pace. Things improved slightly with Jovetic and Perisic missing half-chances, but Lazio were dangerous on the counter-attack.
Strangely Jovetic was took off for Eder on 71’. The Montenegrin wasn’t having the best of games but he seemed to be the only player that was trying to make things happen, Palacio came on soon after replacing Nagatomo as Inter tried to go for broke.
Murillo was booked for a foul on Mauri then – two minutes and 17 seconds – later the Colombian foolishly fouled Keita to give away a penalty and receive his second booking of the game, Candreva scoring emphatically in the top left corner to make it 2-0 to Lazio.
The Italian winger who has been heavily linked with a move to the Nerazzurri has scored four in his last three appearances against Inter and was man-of-the-match on the night.
The defeat sees Inter stay in fourth-place, four points ahead of Fiorentina after La Viola drew against Chievo. Roma remain seven points ahead of the Nerazzurri with the Giallorossi travelling to Genoa on Monday. With the gap at seven, Inter can’t now make the Champions League with just two games remaining.
This match showed that Inter’s problems from the first half of the season haven’t ceded. The team struggled to break the Aquile down as well as creating nothing for Icardi. The Argentine was unable to have an effect on the game because of the horrible passing behind him.
It was a disjointed performance in a game full of turn-overs due to the lack of quality passing. Lazio have put the final nail in Inter’s Champions League coffin doing the double over the Nerazzurri this season. Not for the first time, Lazio have derailed Inter’s campaign. Mancini will need to pick his team up after this to secure qualification to the Europa League group-stage.