Inter Milan vs Lazio

One of the most exciting fixtures in the Serie A calendar pits title-bidding Inter Milan and top-four hopefuls Lazio against each other at Stadio San Siro.

Buoyed by securing a place in the Champions League final for the second time in three years, Inter Milan beat Torino 2-0 to keep their Scudetto hopes alive. Only a point adrift of leaders Napoli, Simone Inzaghi’s men aim to become the first Serie A champions to defend their crown in five years after winning back-to-back league games without conceding. ‘I Nerazzurri’ must hold up their end of the deal and hope Napoli will waste points, and Lazio’s visit fits that narrative. In addition to a remarkable 6-0 win in December’s reverse fixture, Inter have beaten this opposition in four of their last five top-flight H2Hs at San Siro (D1). As a result, they’re in pole position to complete their first league double over Lazio since 2016/17 after winning seven of their eight home league outings (D1).

Meanwhile, Lazio bagged a last-gasp equalizer in an ill-tempered 1-1 home draw against fellow top-four rivals Juventus last time out to stay within touching distance of Champions League qualification. Level on points with the Turin giants, Marco Baroni’s men cannot afford a slip-up at San Siro, where they last beat Inter in Serie A in March 2019. Anything less than three points could see ‘I Biancocelesti’ miss out on European football altogether for the first time since 2016/17. However, Inter have been a bogey team for Baroni, whose dreadful managerial record against ‘I Nerazzurri’ (D1, L7) cannot inspire much confidence. On the bright side, Baroni’s charges have won their last three away league games ‘to nil’ and could make it four on the trot for the first time since November 2022.