Inter Milan host Lazio at San Siro on Sunday (19:45 GMT), as both sides look to assert their ambitions in the Serie A race.
For Christian Chivu’s Inter, it’s another opportunity to keep the pressure on table-toppers Napoli, while Lazio arrive aiming to disrupt the rhythm, eager to close the gap and strengthen their push for European qualification.
Team form
Inter opened the season with a dominant 5–0 win over Torino, before stumbling to back-to-back defeats against Udinese and Juventus.
They responded with a four-match winning streak – defeating Sassuolo, Cagliari, Cremonese, and Roma – though a loss to title challengers Napoli briefly halted their momentum.
Inter have since responded with two successive victories and remain the only side in the division yet to register a draw.
Inter currently sit second in the Serie A table with 21 points, just one point behind Napoli. They are also the top-scoring team so far this season, registering 24 goals in 10 games.
Lazio have endured a more fragmented start. Their campaign began with a disappointing 2–0 home defeat to Como, and Maurizio Sarri’s side have struggled for rhythm since.
With four wins, three draws, and three losses, consistency has proven difficult. However, they have begun to find momentum again in recent weeks, going six league games unbeaten. They currently sit in eighth place, with 15 points.
Head-to-head
Inter have held the upper hand in recent meetings between these two sides, winning six of the last 10 encounters.
Lazio have managed two victories in that span, with the remaining two fixtures ending in draws, including their most recent clash, which ended in a 2–2 draw.
The biggest scoreline between these two sides came in 2024, when Inter dismantled Lazio in a ruthless 6-0 display.
Goalless encounters have been rare in this fixture, with the last 0–0 draw dating back to 2017.
Team news
Injuries continue to pose a significant challenge for Lazio, with Alessio Romagnoli the latest addition to an already crowded treatment room. His setback marked the club’s 11th injury of the season.
Maurizio Sarri is still without Nuno Tavares, Matteo Cancellieri, Taty Castellanos, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, all of whom remain unavailable for selection as the squad battles persistent fitness issues.
Inter have received a timely boost with the return of Marcus Thuram after more than 40 days out due to a hamstring injury.
However, the Nerazzurri will be without Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Exequiel Palacios, both sidelined with thigh injuries, while Matteo Darmian also remains out of contention.
Key stats:
Inter have an average of over two goals per game (2.4), while Lazio only have an average of 1.3.
Inter have scored the most goals in Serie A this season with 24.
Lazio concede less than a goal per game (0.7), whereas Inter concede 1.2.
Inter win an average of 7.7 corners per game, while Lazio win 3.2.
Inter’s Hakan Calhanoglu is the joint top goal scorer in the league this season with five goals.
Prediction
Inter go into this clash with a stronger form, home advantage, and the return of a key attacking player in Thuram. The affair looks tightly contested, but if Inter can maintain their recent momentum and exploit Lazio’s absences, they should have enough to edge a win.
