Goals should certainly be on the menu on Sunday evening as former Lazio player and manager, Roberto Mancini, brings his Inter Milan side to the StadioOlimpico
Lazio have been theSerie A entertainers this season and boast the league’s best attack knocking in 64 goals so far whilst playing some breath-taking football. Last time they set foot in their own stadium they destroyed Parma with a real “Tour De Force” which saw I Biancocelestiscore 3 times in the opening 16 minutes before easing off the accelerator to run out comfortable 4-0 winners.
Goals are coming from all over the pitch for Lazio, German striker Mioslav Klose has 12, the season’s revelation, Brazilian midfielder Felipe Anderson, has 10 and Italian internationals Antonio Candreva and Marco Parolo have eight and nine goals respectively.
Klose looks set to return to lead the attack on Sunday after serving a suspension last time out against Atalanta and coach Stefano Pioli looks to have almost a full squad to select from which means a welcome return for Dutch international defender Stefan de Vrij who has been another great signing for the Roman club. It all points to Pioli starting with his favoured 4-2-3-1 system with Candreva, club captain Stefano Mauri and Felipe Anderson dropping in behind the big German as Lazio look to claw back second position from city rivals AS Roma.
Inter Milan’s only consistency is their inconsistency but with striker Mauro Icardicurrently hitting the heights with 18 goals so far this season, the second best in the championship, Roberto Mancini’s side always have a chance. Inter Milan have not lost a match away from the San Siro since being beaten 1-0 by Sampdoria on the 22nd of March and their last two away days have returned maximum points after victories against Verona and Udinese.
INerazzurri are just one of a host of clubs clamouring for a Europa League spot next season and midfielder Anderson Hernanes will be looking to provide the ammunition for Icardi to upset the odds against his former employers and will hope for a repeat of the wonderful goal he recently scored against the Eternal city’s other club AS Roma.
If Lazio are a team that start matches strongly then Inter Milan are their polar opposites with almost a third of their goals coming in the final 30 minutes of matches. Last time out on the road, a first goal of the season from January signing Lukas Podolski 25 minutes from time, grabbed all three points for INerazzurri but the German international looks set start Sunday’s match from the substitutes bench once again.
The corresponding fixture just before the winter break saw Lazio race into a two goal lead before Inter Milan hauled themselves back into game in the final 20 minutes to grab a share of the points. Lazio will start the match as favourites but don’t be surprised if we get a similar outcome to the first meeting between these two football heavyweights.
Our Probable Formations for Lazio vs Inter:
Lazio (4.2.3.1) Marchetti; Basta, de Vrij, Ciani, Radu; Biglia, Parolo; Candreva,Mauri, Felipe Anderson; Klose
Inter Milan (4.3.1.2) Handanovic; Juan Jesus, Vidic, Ranocchia, D’Ambrosio; Kovacic, Medel, Guarin; Hernanes; Palacio, Icardi
Steve Mitchell