Inter Milan vs Lazio

Inter Milan will host Lazio at San Siro on Sunday evening in a pivotal Serie A clash that could shape the season's outcome.

Simone Inzaghi’s squad received a significant lift in their quest for back-to-back titles last weekend, while Lazio bolstered their chances of securing a Champions League spot.

It was nearly a flawless Sunday for Inter, as they secured a 2-0 victory on the road against a challenging Torino team, only to see Napoli unexpectedly lose points at home to Genoa.

This has reignited the title race, narrowing Napoli’s lead from three points to just one, though Inzaghi faces a dilemma between pushing for the Scudetto and preparing for the looming Champions League final.

This weekend’s match carries immense weight, as it represents the sternest challenge either of the top two teams will face, and a loss for Inter could gift the championship to Napoli if Antonio Conte’s side triumphs over a struggling Parma.

Inter’s recent form at San Siro has been outstanding, with seven victories in their last eight Serie A matches at home, alongside a thrilling Champions League semi-final win against Barcelona earlier this month.

The triumph over Torino last week also marked a historic milestone for former Lazio manager Inzaghi, who became only the second coach in Serie A history to achieve 100 wins with two different clubs, joining the legendary Nils Liedholm.

One of those 100 victories with Inter was a resounding 6-0 thrashing of Lazio in the reverse fixture at the Stadio Olimpico, setting the stage for Inter to potentially secure a league double over their opponents for the first time since the 2016-17 season.

Inter have dominated four of their last five home games against Lazio, though the most recent meeting at San Siro ended in a draw last season, giving the visitors hope of repeating that result. However, Lazio’s manager Marco Baroni has struggled against Inter, with one draw and seven losses in his eight encounters.

Lazio’s spirits should be high, though, after maintaining their Champions League aspirations with a dramatic late equalizer against top-four rivals Juventus last weekend.

Baroni’s team took advantage of Pierre Kalulu’s dismissal, with Matias Vecino netting in the 96th minute to steal a point from Juventus, keeping both sides level on 64 points heading into the second-to-last weekend.

Nevertheless, Lazio sit fifth due to their worse head-to-head record against Juventus, with Bologna and Roma hot on their heels, and facing the toughest fixture this weekend, the Biancocelesti risk slipping down the table.

Lazio have not failed to qualify for European competition since the 2016-17 campaign, but with the race for fourth to ninth so tight, that streak is under threat, especially as they face a Lecce side that could be fighting for survival on the final day.

Playing away from home should not faze Lazio, however, as all their victories in the last nine matches have come on the road—against Atalanta, Genoa, and Empoli—and they could achieve four consecutive away wins for the first time in three years.