Inter’s hopes of regaining their Serie A title from rivals AC Milan have suffered an early blow. Lazio stormed to a deserved victory thanks to the second-half introductions of Luis Alberto and Pedro, who both scored.
Inter dominated this game in spells but couldn’t make the most of them. They’ll have plenty to think about.
Starting lineup:
LAZIO (4-3-3): Ivan Provedel; Manuel Lazzari, Patric, Alessio Romagnoli, Adam Marusic; Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Danilo Cataldi, Matias Vecino; Felipe Anderson, Ciro Immobile (c), Mattia Zaccagni.
SUBS: Marius Adamonis, Toma Basic, Stefan Radu, Luis Maximiano, Pedro, Marcos Antonio, Nicolo Casale, Luis Alberto, Gila Fuentes, Matteo Cancellieri, Luka Romero, Elseid Hysaj.
INTER (3-5-2): Samir Handanovic (c); Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Roberto Gagliardini, Marcelo Brozovic, Federico Dimarco; Romelu Lukau, Lautaro Martinez.
SUBS: Hakan Calhanoglu, Joaquín Correa, Robin Gosens, Andre Onana, Alex Cordaz, Raoul Bellanova, Danilo D’Ambrosio, Matteo Darmian, Lucien Agoume, Edin Dzeko, Kristjan Asllani.
Goals:
GOAL! LAZIO 1-0 INTER! Milinkovic-Savic floats an incredible high through ball into Inter’s box. Felipe Anderson runs in behind Dimarco to nod past Handanovic, who’s caught in no man’s land. It’s first blood to Lazio!
GOAL! LAZIO 1-1 INTER! Lazio has switched off and been punished! Dimarco swings the free-kick in left-footed. The hosts won the first header but can’t stop Dumfries from winning the second. The Dutchman flicks the ball onto Martinez, who’s suddenly unmarked. The Argentine converts to draw Inter level!
GOAL! LAZIO 2-1 INTER! What a goal by Luis Alberto! When Pedro collects a loose cross down the left, it looks like nothing’s on for Lazio. The Spaniard lays off to his fellow substitute and compatriot Luis Alberto, who spanks one into the top right corner from a distance. What a way to restore Lazio’s lead!
GOAL! LAZIO 3-1 INTER! Pedro has undoubtedly secured the win for Lazio and put this game to bed! Immobile goes down under pressure in the box but finds the Spaniard wide left. The substitute jinks into the box, checks onto his right foot, and curls the ball wonderfully past Handanovic into the far top corner.
So, what’s next?
Lazio has continued their strong recent record at home to Inter then.
If they can carry on winning at the Stadio Olimpico, they’ll be a force to be reckoned with this season.
