Serie A: In-Form Teams Battle in Stadio Olimpico

Lazio vs Inter Milan

The penultimate Serie A weekend before Christmas saves the best game of the weekend until last. Lazio versus Inter Milan on Monday night is, as far as this SBOTOP writer is concerned, the pick of the pops with the potential for Serie A 2024 highlights aplenty. And results last weekend mean it also has fresh momentum in what is developing into the most open title race in Europe.

 

Talking Points

Inter, 2023 Champions League finalists and reigning Italian champions, start as favourites as you would expect, but they are travelling to the capital to meet a team brimming with confidence. A Coppa Italia success over a second-string Napoli a week ago may have been expected but, when Lazio won in Naples a few days later against the same opponents (by now at full strength) to prevent them returning to the Serie A summit, it really did make people sit up and take notice. Not only did the result knock Napoli off top spot, it also put Lazio within three points of new leaders Atalanta and level with Inter (having played a game more).

The Biancocelesti really are in spectacular form, winning 14 of their last 17 competitive matches in all competitions (Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and Europa League where they were 3-1 victors at Ajax on Thursday evening). That is even more surprising given they had to shake off an unconvincing start to the campaign before embarking on a run of 11 wins in 12 games from September into late November, during which they established themselves as contenders for a Champions League spot.

Few could have predicted that back in June when Igor Tudor resigned as manager and thousands of fans protested in the streets following the appointment of Marco Baroni as his successor. Their anger was not directed at the new hire, but at the owner Claudio Lotito – accused of caring too much for the bottom line and not enough for the club’s aspirations or sense of identity.

Baroni was simply the latest manifestation: a man whose previous Serie A stints had all been with teams from the lower-half of the table. Now he puts his wits against one of the top managers in Europe and a predecessor as the man in the Inter dugout is former Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi.

He took over as Lazio’s manager in 2016 and stayed for five years, notably leading them to the Coppa Italia in 2019. His current charges are in fine form too and, ever since the Derby D’ Italia at the end of October – an eight-goal thriller – they have looked ominous, even if they did go down to a first defeat in Europe this season on Tuesday night when a late Bayer Leverkusen goal ensured the Germans became the first side to score against the Italian champions in the competition this term.

Now it’s back to domestic duties and possibly one of the toughest tests in their title defence with I Nerazzurri knowing that, if they win their game in hand, they will go joint top of the table.

 

History

Historically in the Italian top-flight, Inter have won 69 times compared to 55 draws and Lazio’s 39 successes. Their most famous meeting came in the 1998 UEFA Cup Final (now Europa League) in which Inter recorded a 3-0 victory.

This meeting last season went the way of Inter as Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram scored in each half to seal a 2-0 success. That was one of three encounters last term.

In the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, Inter ran out 3-0 winners with Thuram, Hakan Calhanoglu (penalty), and Davide Frattesi on target. They also met at the San Siro in the penultimate league game of the season, by which time Inter had long clinched the title.

A 1-1 draw saw Daichi Kamada fire the visitors in front before Denzel Dumfries headed an equaliser with three minutes remaining to set the title party in full swing.

Inter have a fine record against Lazio. Indeed, Lazio have only won two of their last nine meetings.

 

Betting Tip

It’s the Italian champions all the way, per the Serie A 2024 betting odds. You can put your money on Inter both 1X2 @ 2.09 and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 1.90 or back Lazio instead, 1X2 @ 3.12 or Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.00.

A low-scoring contest is not expected given that Total Goal 0-1 is available @ 3.28, contrasting with 2-3 @ 1.99 and 4-6 @ 3.19. As for a repeat of the corresponding fixture last term, then Correct Score 0-2 is on offer @ 11.00.

While I’ve been tempted by the 1X2 Draw @ 3.29, I do think Inter will edge to victory by the odd goal.

   

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