Serie A returns this weekend with a heavyweight clash between Lazio and Inter Milan coming up this Saturday in Rome.
Venue: Stadio Olimpico (Rome)
Key Statistics
Lazio have won three of their opening seven games in the league.
They have scored 15 goals and have conceded 12 times, which is the worst record for the top eight teams in the league.
Lazio’s Sergej Milinković-Savić has four league goals against Inter, the joint-highest he’s scored against any SA side.
Inter Milan are unbeaten in the league this season (W5, D2).
They have scored 22 goals (the most in the league) and have conceded eight times.
Edin Džeko has scored six Serie A goals, making him the first player since Ronaldo in 1997/98 to score at least six in his first seven seasonal league games for Inter.
Head to head
In 34 head-to-head meetings between both sides, Inter Milan hold the clear advantage with 17 wins. Lazio have 12 wins while five games have ended level.
Latest Performances in all competitions
Lazio: L-W-W-D-D
Inter Milan: W-D-D-W-W
Lazio
After starting the 2021/22 Serie A season with back-to-back wins over Empoli and Spezia, Lazio have endured a difficult run of form in recent games.
Maurizio Sarri’s side have picked up just one win across their last five league matches (W1, D2, L2), and are entering this tie sitting in sixth place, eleven points behind leaders Napoli.
They were expected to mount a title charge this year following the appointment of Sarri in the summer, but are only going into this game week holding onto a place inside the top six due to a superior goal difference.
Despite their patchy form, the ‘Biancocelesti’ are a real force at home, having won all two out of three home league games this year (D1), while scoring 11 goals.
Overall, they have not lost at home in the league in 16 games (W14, D2) and will fancy their chances of extending that run further against the defending champions.
Meanwhile, Sarri could be without star striker Ciro Immobile and midfielder Mattia Zaccagni because of injuries, while centre-back Francesco Acerbi misses out because of suspension.
Possible Lazio starting line-ups
Jose Manuel Reina, Adam Marusic, Luiz Felipe, Patric, Elseid Hysaj, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, Luis Alberto, Felipe Anderson, Ciro Immobile, Pedro.
Inter Milan
Simone Inzaghi returns to his former stomping ground this weekend looking to extend his side’s unbeaten run in the league.
The Italian has continued where Antonio Conte stopped and is leading his side into this game unbeaten in the league.
The San Siro side head into this game sitting in third place, four points behind leaders Napoli (W5, D2).
Despite losing star players Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi, the visitors remain a very solid outfit. They will fancy their chances of extending their unbeaten run against Sarri’s men.
Meanwhile, Simone will have to play this game without Brazilian goalkeeper Gabriel Brazao, while there are also doubts over the availability of midfielder Stefano Sensi and Argentine forward Joaquin Correa.
Possible Inter Milan starting line-ups
Samir Handanovic, Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni, Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Marcelo Brozovic, Hakan Calhanoglu, Matteo Darmian, Edin Dzeko, Lautaro Martinez.
Prediction
Although Lazio are enduring a patchy run of form, they remain a very solid outfit and will trouble Inter Milan.
But overall, the San Siro side possesses a higher quality and should be able to see off Sarri’s men.