A critical match for both title contenders where the over-achieving hosts will look to cement their place as genuine contenders against the visiting favorites Inter. Match tomorrow Sunday at 20:45 CET.
No words can sufficiently describe how impressive Lazio’s season has been. Not only do Sunday night’s hosts find themselves just one point from the top of the table, they also lead the league table in goal differential, have the joint best goals conceded (along with visitors Inter), have the second best goal scoring record and have a squad that includes runaway Capocannoniere favorite Ciro Immobile.
Simone Inzaghi’s extended stay on the Lazio bench coupled with the managerial stability brought by president Claudio Lotito and sporting director Igli Tare means that the Biancocelesti are now able to reap the rewards of sticking with a project for a long term.
Inzaghi is in charge of a united squad that is in full comprehension of what he wants of them and that also exhibits a high level of understanding and mutual intuition between the players. Unlike Atalanta, Lazio’s prowess is not based on an aesthetically pleasing expansive type of football, they seem to be able to grind out their wins by simply doing the basics better and for longer stretches of a match than their opponents do. Testament to that is their goal scoring heat-map, Lazio have their highest scoring probability in the last ten minutes of a match. They do not switch off.
Inter on the other hand seem to exhibit the opposite tendency ever since the new year. The last two league matches aside, Inter have recently started matches strong only to drop off in the second half and throw away an early lead. It seems that Antonio Conte and his conditioning staff have realized this and have adjusted match strategies better to be able to ensure there’s enough gas in the tank for the full ninety minutes.
This match will be a battle of midfield’s. It is arguable that on the pitch, viewers will be treated to watching the best two midfields in the league, and whichever team will be able to win the battle of the middle will probably take away all points. With a midfield trio of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Luis Alberto and Lucas Lieva, Lazio can strike fear in the hearts of any top European side.
Conte will have to utilize weapons that Inzaghi does not possess if he’s to be able to pressure and pin the hosts back. Demanding extra mobility from Christian Eriksen between the Lazio midfield and defense will be one such weapon. Another solution Conte can resort to is the superior pace and experience on the wings that Ashley Young and Victor Moses bring.
Whatever happens, expect this match to be a cracker and a real game of chess between two very capable managers with all to play for.
Team News
The unluckiest man in Calcio, Stefano Sensi, will miss the match after picking up a hairline foot fracture midweek against Napoli. Roberto Gagliardini is still unfit to make the cut and Seba Esposito has been sidelined for a few days with his own minor injury. The big question mark remains over Samir Handanovic’s condition. The captain is fit enough to make the match squad but has missed two matches in a row. It will be interesting to see if Conte and the medical staff will green light his participation in the match.
Probable line-up (3-4-1-2): Padelli; Godin, De Vrij, Skriniar; Moses, Barella, Bozovic (C), Young; Eriksen; Lautaro, Lukaku.
Stats
Last Season: Lazio 0-3 Inter
Last 10 Head to Head: To call Inter Lazio’s boogey-team would be a huge disservice to the concept. Inter have beating the Romans at their home in their last three trips to the Capital. Inter’s win record in the last ten head to head encounters of six wins is double Lazio’s three victories in the league.
Keep an Eye on
Matias Vecino: Ever since Vecino’s history making end of match winner in Rome two years ago that saw Inter back into the Champions League after missing out for the better part of a decade, all eyes are on the Uruguayan midfielder when the two sides take to the pitch. While Vecino might not start the match, expect him to come on at some point in time, he will then be expected to make a profound impact on the match.
Officials
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi.
Assistants: Stefano Alassio and Alessandro Costanzo.
Fourth Official: Fabrizio Pasqua.
VAR Assistants: Mauro Vivenzi and Paolo Mazzoleni.
Prediction & Concluding Remarks
Prediction & scorers: Lazio 1 – 2 Inter with Lukaku and De Vrij to score for the visitors.
Concluding remarks:
Inter seem to rise up to the occasion when required. With the midweek Coppa Italia loss behind them, the Nerazzurri will know that this fixture is what really matters, accordingly expect a fully motivated and hungry Inter to be too much for the overachieving Lazio. This is the match where order will be restored in the universe.