Match: Lazio vs Inter Milan
When: Monday, 16 December 2024, 21:45 SAST
Where: Stadio Olimpico
Lazio Form
Lazio are having a great season. They’ve won five of their six Europa League matches and have six wins in the last seven rounds of Serie A action. After losing at Juventus in October, they won seven straight matches. A surprise 0-0 home draw vs Ludogorets followed in Europe with 20 shots.
A surprise 3-1 loss in the league followed at Parma, but they’ve bounced back impressively. They beat Napoli 3-1 at home in the Coppa Italia and then won 1-0 in Naples versus the same opponents in Serie A. On Thursday, Lazio travelled to Amsterdam and won 3-1 against Ajax in the Europa League.
Lazio Team News
Coach Marco Baroni rotated his side in midweek. He is without Matias Vecino in midfield and Alessio Romagnoli in defence due to injury. Left backs Luca Pellegrini and Nuno Tavares both shook off knocks to feature in midweek
Ivan Provedel will return in goal after a rest and Matteo Guendouzi will be back in the XI in midfield. Gustav Isaksen and is set to start on the right wing whilst Pedro is competing with Mattia Zaccagni to play down the left.
Lazio Motivation
The Rome giants are full of confidence and belief. The entire squad is contributing and they’re scoring freely.
At the moment, they’re just three points off the summit and a win would mark Lazio as real title contenders.
Inter Milan Form
Inter saw a 13-match unbeaten run ended in midweek. After losing to AC Milan in September, they won five straight matches before a 4-4 thriller in Serie A vs Juventus. Three more wins followed, including 1-0 at home to Arsenal. A 1-1 draw in the title race followed at Napoli.
They destroyed Verona 5-0 and beat RB Leipzig 1-0 at home as they allowed just 0.15 xG. Last weekend, Inter outshot Parma 18-4 in a 3-1 home victory. On Tuesday, they conceded in the 90th minute to lose 1-0 away to Leverkusen as they allowed 17 shots and had just 39% possession.
Inter Milan Team News
Simone Inzaghi rotated his XI heavily in midweek ahead of this match. Henrick Mkhitaryan and Nicolo Barella will be back in midfield whilst Lautaro Martinez and Federico Dimarco will also start after partial midweek breathers.
Francesco Acerbi and Benjamin Pavard are both injured in defence but Denzel Dumfries should return after a virus.
Inter Milan Motivation
Full focus is on this match, hence the rotation on Wednesday. Inter know they need to at least avoid losing this clash.
Inzaghi’s side can play in different styles. They can absorb pressure and play on the break, or look to dominate opponents.
Key Stats
Lazio have won 14 of their last 17 matches.
Lazio’s Pedro has scored 7 goals this season (135 mins per goal).
Inter have won 11 of their last 13 matches in all competitions (5 clean sheets in last 8).
Inter Milan have won 3 of their last 4 matches vs Lazio.
Inter have lost just 1 of their last 26 away Serie A matches.
Verdict
Based on the stats, Inter will leave Rome with something. Lazio are a fine team so a draw may be the most likely outcome on Monday.
Best Bet: Inter Milan win/draw double chance + Over 1.5 goals at 174
Value Bet: Draw at 3.25
Anytime Goalscorer Tips: Pedro at 3.80 or Thuram at 3.20