Inter Milan vs Lazio

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza is the venue as Inter Milan and Lazio lock horns in a high-stakes Serie A top-four six-pointer.

Despite cruising to a 3-0 victory at Empoli last weekend, Inter’s top-four hopes are still up in the air as they come into this matchday trailing fourth-placed AC Milan by two points. Simone Inzaghi’s men are responsible for suffering three consecutive top-flight home games ‘to nil’ for the first time in the club’s history, so they’ll be keen to make amends this weekend. Another defeat, though, would see them lose four times in a row at Meazza for the first time this century. However, ‘I Nerazzurri’ have overcome Lazio in their last three Serie A home clashes, which forms part of their supreme overall H2H record as hosts (W46, D29, L11). Confidence has been restored following a 2-1 aggregate win over Juventus in their blockbuster Coppa Italia semi-final, meaning Inter will be out to make things right.

However, Lazio emerged 3-1 winners in the reverse fixture and will be gunning for their first Serie A double over last season’s runners-up since 2012/13. Despite being knocked down from an eight-match unbeaten league streak by a 1-0 home defeat to mid-table Torino in the previous round (W7, D1), ‘I Biancocelesti’ are still relatively safe in a top-four race, boasting a five-point lead on fifth-placed Roma. Desperate to secure Champions League football for only the second time since 2007/08, Maurizio Sarri’s men can draw inspiration from going five consecutive Serie A away matches without conceding (W3, D2), a feat only achieved by two more clubs in the competition’s long history. Indeed, Lazio’s defensive solidity has been off the charts this season, with only Barcelona matching their stunning haul of 21 conceded goals in Europe’s top-five leagues.