Inter are back in Milan to face Lazio at the Meazza on Wednesday night at 20:45 CET in this calendar year’s last match.
This match is rife with interesting trivia for the Nerazzurri, all black and blue faithful will remember that the corresponding fixture from last season was also the calendar year’s last game, where Inter lost at home causing the Mancini train to derail, ultimately leading to his departure over summer. If Inter manage to win the game it will be the first time they win three league games in a row, a feat that hasn’t happened since last year’s match. Finally, if Inter beat Lazio, they will guarantee that the Biancocelesti will not enter the league’s top three, which they haven’t been able to achieve since Stefano Pioli was on their bench.
While Lazio have won four of their last five league games, it is important to note that their away form has been much weaker than their form in Rome. It appears that the Roman outfit struggle the most when put under pressure and come up against expansive wide teams that can balance width with a solid central backbone. Tactically, expect Pioli to continue with his back-three experiment, a module that seemed to work very well against Sassuolo over the weekend. Going forward, expect both Ivan Perisic and Antonio Candreva to play important roles going forward, stretching the Lazio defence to both put in crosses for Mauro Icardi and give space for midfield runs by Marcelo Brozovic or Eder/Ever Banega to find pockets of space in the visitors’ final third.
Team News
Pioli will have to contend with quite the headache in the middle of the pitch; with Joao Mario and Felipe Melo suspended and Gary Medel out injured, the Italian tactician will probably have to deploy the inconsistent Geoffrey Kondogbia alongside Brozovic in the midfield and either Banega or Eder next to Perisic behind Icardi.
Probable Inter line-up (subject to change): (3-4-2-1) Handanovic; Miranda, Murillo, D’Ambrosio; Candreva, Joao Mario, Brozovic, Ansaldi; Banega, Perisic; Icardi (C).
Stats
Last Season: Inter 1 – 2 Lazio
Last 10 Head to Head: In the last ten head to head encounters between the two sides have been clearly dominated by Lazio; winning six times to Inter’s three victories.
Player to Watch:
Antonio Candreva: The Italy international put in a man-of-the-match performance against Sassuolo in the last match, and will be even more fired up to perform against his previous employers.
Officials
Referee: tbc
Assistants: tbc
Fourth Official: tbc
Additional Assistants: tbc
Prediction & Authors Note
Prediction & scorers: Inter 2-0 Lazio with Perisic and Candreva getting the goals.
Author’s Note: It appears that Inter’s fortunes will again lie with ensuring they start the match with the right attitude and mentality. If Inter can dictate play, impose their style and pace and keep a clean sheet for at least twenty minutes, the three points will be there for the taking.
Words: Mo Nassar Follow him @MNassar
