Serie A: Win at All Costs a Must at San Siro

Inter Milan vs Lazio

With the Champions League Final looming large, it’s not unreasonable to suggest Inter Milan could have one eye on the May 31 showpiece right now.

After all, the Nerazzurri are potentially 90 minutes away from being crowned European champions for the fourth time.

Yet that is not the reality at all. Inter have a domestic title to defend; a chance to win back-to-back Scudettos for the first time since 2010 (the year they also triumphed in Europe).

Standing in their way in the San Siro on Sunday evening are Lazio and, with only two Serie A games remaining, there is simply no room for any slip-up whatsoever – for either club.

 

Talking Points

As it stands, Inter were given a welcome boost last weekend when they won 2-0 at Torino and leaders Napoli were held at home by Genoa, meaning the gap at the top closed to one point.

Simone Inzaghi’s team cannot afford to drop any points, though, and are still relying on Napoli failing to beat Parma or Cagliari over the final two weekends of the season.

That victory at Torino ensured Inter kept their dream of winning a 21st top-flight crown alive. Nicola Zalewski netted his first goal for the club since joining from Roma on loan in January to open the scoring before Kristjan Asllani put the game to bed from the spot early in the second half.

A tougher encounter is expected against Inzaghi’s former charges (who he guided to the 2019 Coppa Italia) who, themselves, are chasing a top four spot.

Level on points with fourth-placed Juventus, Marco Baroni’s side remains firmly in the running for a coveted Champions League qualification. Yet, with only two points separating fourth and seventh in Serie A, Lazio could miss out on European football for the first time since 2016/17 with a loss here.

Needless to say, defeat for either team would deal a potentially fatal blow to their respective ambitions. It would likely leave Inter out of the title battle and Lazio vulnerable to falling out of the top six picture entirely.

A draw may not be much better either so, with much at stake, this SBOTOP pundit is expecting Serie A 2025 highlights.

Team news wise, Benjamin Pavard, Davide Frattesi, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have reportedly returned to training. That leaves captain Lautaro Martinez as the only high-profile absentee, though El Toro trained separately from the group during midweek.

On the other hand, Lazio lost Luca Pellegrini and Mattia Zaccagni to yellow-card suspensions in an ill-tempered draw against Juventus last weekend. Elseid Hysaj, who returns from a one-game ban, should take the former’s place at left-back as Nuno Tavares remains on the sidelines with a muscle injury.

 

History

Historically in the Italian top-flight, Inter have won 70 times compared to 55 draws and 39 Lazio successes.

That includes a 6-0 rout just before Christmas when two goals in the final four minutes of the first half – Hakan Calhanoglu (penalty) and Federico Dimarco – opened the floodgates and the goals flew in after the break when Nicolo Barella, Denzel Dumfries, Carlo Augusto and Marcus Thuram added to the misery on the hosts.

Their most famous meeting came in the 1998 UEFA Cup Final (now Europa League) in which Inter recorded a 3-0 victory.

The meeting in the capital last season went the way of Inter as Martinez and 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, Calhanoglu (penalty) and 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 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 11 meetings, including in last month’s Coppa Italia quarter-final which Inter won 2-0, courtesy of goals from Marko Arnautović and a Çalhanoglu penalty.

 

Betting Tip

Our Serie A 2025 betting odds make the hosts clear favourites, and they can be backed 1X2 @ 1.65 and Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 2.12. The guests in the San Siro this weekend are well drift and can be backed 1X2 @ 4.57 and Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.33.

Just like last term, they’re meeting in the penultimate league fixture of the season. This time, however, the scenario is very different so, instead of opting for a repeat scoreline of Correct Score 1-1 – on offer @ 7.20 – my tip is for Inter Milan.

   

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