Serie A: Lazio Look to Halt Inter’s Perfect Start

Lazio vs Inter Milan

Inter Milan’s mission to reclaim their Serie A crown is off to a perfect start. The Nerazzurri have won their first two games of the season and are one of just three teams left with a 100 per cent record.

However, Simone Inzaghi’s side will face their biggest test yet as they travel to the capital to face his old club Lazio, who are also unbeaten through two games.

This match will feature some of the top marksmen in the league, with Lazio’s inspirational captain Ciro Immobile going up against Inter’s reunited duo of Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez.

The Serie A 2022 betting odds have the Nerazzurri as favourites to emerge victorious at the Olimpico, but don’t count out the Biancocelesti, who have held their own against Inter in recent years.

Talking Points

Lazio getting by without Luis Alberto

Lazio have begun the new Serie A campaign well as they’ve picked up four points from their first two games.

They pulled off a gutsy 2-1 win over Bologna where they were a man down after just six minutes and needed to come back from a goal down after a Marko Arnautovic penalty. And they followed that up with a goalless draw away to Torino.

Maurizio Sarri’s side have had to make do without Luis Alberto in the starting lineup in their first two games. The Spanish playmaker, who has been so crucial to their success over the last few years, handed in a transfer request in the summer and was linked with a move to Sevilla, but it did not come to fruition.

Sarri has only used Luis Alberto as a substitute in both games, and it remains to be seen whether he will re-insert the Spaniard into the starting XI.

There’s a better chance of fellow Spaniard Pedro returning to the first XI. The 35-year-old missed the season opener with an ankle injury, but he made it back as a substitute against Torino.

Meanwhile, skipper Ciro Immobile will continue to lead the line for Lazio. The reigning Capocannoniere is already off the mark with a goal this season, but he was relatively quiet in the draw with Torino.

Lukaku making an immediate impact at Inter

Inter Milan fell short of defending their Serie A title last season as rivals AC Milan pipped them for the Scudetto. But the Nerazzurri’s quest to win back the crown is off to a promising start with a perfect two wins out of two.

After edging out Lecce 2-1 thanks to a late Denzel Dumfries winner, Inter had a much more comfortable 3-0 home victory over Spezia last time out.

The returning Romelu Lukaku is already back in the groove and providing plenty of Serie A 2022 highlights two games in. After scoring just two minutes into his first game back, the big Belgian then set up strike partner Lautaro Martinez’s excellent goal against Spezia and also hit the woodwork himself.

The added quality Lukaku brings up front is just what Inter needed. And with the likes of Edin Dzeko and Joaquin Correa in reserve, they are arguably deeper and more dangerous than their title-winning side of a couple years ago.

With his side playing well to start the season, Simone Inzaghi is unlikely to make too many changes to his mostly settled starting XI. The only question is which wing-backs he will start after picking a different pair in the first two games.

History

Inter may be the bigger and more storied club, but Lazio have more than held their own against the Nerazzurri in their matchups in recent years. Inter hold a slight 15-10 edge in terms of wins, while there have been four draws over their last 29 league meetings.

Of course, much of Lazio’s success during that time was down to Simone Inzaghi, who is now in charge of Inter.

The home side won both fixtures last season. Lazio won the first match 3-1 at the Stadio Olimpico. Inter took an early lead through an Ivan Perisic penalty, but the Biancocelesti battled back with three second-half goals.

However, Inter got their revenge as they won 2-1 at the San Siro thanks to goals from centre-backs Alessandro Bastoni and Milan Skriniar.

Romelu Lukaku will relish facing Lazio again. He scored a brace in his last match against them as he led Inter to a 3-1 home win back in February 2021.

Betting Tip

SBOTOP odds have Inter installed as 1.90 favourites to get a big away win in Rome. Lazio are priced at 4.00 to win, while a draw is 3.40.

The home side has had the upper hand in this matchup in recent years as they’ve won five of the last six matches. Although, the away side had won four out of five before that, with Inter winning three times in Rome.

With Lukaku back and seemingly not missing a beat, Inter will be tough to stop. Lazio remain dangerous with the likes of Immobile and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, but I still like Inter’s chances of getting the big away win.

 

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