Lazio v Inter Milan – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Lazio host Inter Milan on Saturday night in Serie A. I Biancocelesti haven’t made the best start since the arrival of Maurizio Sarri and were humiliated 3-0 in their last match. They face an Inter side coached by former Lazio manager Simone Inzaghi and who are unbeaten in the league whilst scoring over three goals per match. Lazio has won 14 and drawn two of their last 16 home matches in Serie A.

Lazio Form

Lazio has been inconsistent since the appointment of Maurizio Sarri. Their seven Serie A matches have brought three wins, two draws, and two defeats.

Consecutive away defeat at Milan and Galatasaray (Europa League) were followed by a 2-2 home draw with Cagliari and a 1-1 draw at Torino. The side bounced back to beat Roma 3-2 in the derby and then got a key 2-0 home win against Lokomotiv Moscow in Europe. Their last match was a terrible 3-0 loss at Bologna.

Lazio Team News

Sarri is without highly experienced central defender Francesco Acerbi for this match due to suspension after his red card in the last match.

Speedy winger Bobby Adekanye has a knee injury and prolific striker Ciro Immobile has a thigh problem and could miss out. If the latter does not recover in time, then Kosovan striker Vedat Muriqi could deputize once again.

Lazio Motivation

Lazio faces Marseille at home in a big Europa League clash on Thursday but that is not expected to distract the players. Sarri’s side will play their usual high-possession game and try to win the match.

A draw is not a bad result but the coach does not know how to shut up shop and play for a point.

Inter Milan Form

Inter are unbeaten this season in Serie A under Simone Inzaghi. He has the side scoring freely with 22 goals netted in seven league matches. After the side conceded late to lose 1-0 at home to Real Madrid in the Champions League, they thrashed Bologna 6-1 and then went to Fiorentina and won 3-1.

A 2-2 home draw with Atalanta came next before a poor 0-0 draw at home with Shakhtar. A 2-1 win at Sassuolo in their last match saw goals from both strikers, Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez in a strong comeback.

Inter Milan Team News

Inter has a pretty clean bill of health besides in midfield with the long-term knee injury to Stefano Sensi and Christian Eriksen’s continued absence after cardiac arrest. The side is pretty settled with just a few areas to decide on. Denzel Dumfries and Matteo Darmian will fight for the right-wingback role.

Arturo Vidal is back from injury to boost midfield but maybe benched again with Hakan Calhanoglu selected instead. Edin Dzeko was only a substitute in the last match in a busy week but came on to score immediately. He will return to the XI for this big clash.

Inter Milan Motivation

Inter will play to win this match and motivation will be very high for Inzaghi against his former club. The defending champions are already four points behind Napoli after seven matches and can’t afford to let that gap get any bigger.

Interplay an open and attacking game under their new coach. A draw would not be a disaster of a result in isolation.

Key Stats

Lazio have conceded 12 goals in their 7 Serie A matches

Lazio have lost 3 of their last 7 matches (all comps)

Lazio have won 14 of their last 16 home Serie A matches (D2)

Inter have scored 22 goals in their last 7 Serie A matches

Inter are 6 Serie A matches without a clean sheet

Inter have seen over 3.5 goals in 10 of their last 11 league matches

Internazionale have lost 1 of their last 15 away Serie A matches (W9, D5)

Verdict

This match is not easy to call. Lazio is truly formidable at home whilst Inter is strong on the road. Goals are likely to be seen with the attacking outlooks of Sarri and Inzaghi. The odds on a home win are incredibly generous considering Lazio’s 16 matches unbeaten record in Rome.