New Serie A champions Inter Milan go don begin their victory lap with a trip to Rome on Saturday evening, when dem go visit Lazio at Stadio Olimpico. After Inter secure their 21st Scudetto last weekend, next up na dress rehearsal for this year Coppa Italia final.
Champions-elect for several weeks, Inter were formally crowned kings of Calcio last Sunday, sewing up top spot with three rounds remaining. Confirming their status, Cristian Chivu imperious side now sit 12 points clear of second-placed Napoli following a 2-0 home win over Parma.
While celebrations continue for several days for the black-and-blue half of Milan, the Nerazzurri no fit afford to rest on their laurels. Inter still dey target rare domestic double, and their first since Jose Mourinho team go on to claim memorable treble back for 2010. Chivu na one of Mourinho players during those glory days, but if im squad prevail for next week Coppa Italia decider, im first season as head coach go also go down for club folklore.
Striding towards the finish line, Inter last loss na for Derby della Madonnina against AC Milan more than two months ago, and new points record fit dey on the cards. Having accumulated 82 this term – already one more than through all of last season – their best-ever tally of 90 fit yet be surpassed. By far the league leading scorers, Inter also don find the net at least twice for their last six fixtures, and that dey bode well for this trip to the capital.
Now set for back-to-back games against Lazio at the Olimpico, dem don win the clubs last two clashes there by emphatic 8-0 aggregate scoreline. Either home or away, Lazio last league win over Inter date back to August 2022, and dem were beaten 2-0 at San Siro for this term reverse fixture.
Nonetheless, the Rome club now dey for good shape to fare better, both for Sunday warm-up and next Wednesday cup final. Previously slumping down the standings, Lazio don transform since winter turn to spring, and dem no dey totally out of contention to qualify for Europe via Serie A. Four points adrift of Atalanta, wey occupy the last possible continental place, dem fit still claim seventh spot. Only if Inter win the cup go that secure Conference League berth, so Lazio go dey go all-in for the Coppa Italia, particularly as lifting silverware for home turf fit rescue underwhelming campaign.
The Biancocelesti fit yet miss out for Europe for second straight season, but dem seem to dey finish with flourish: after thrilling 3-3 draw with Udinese one week earlier, another late goal help dem beat Cremonese on Monday. Now, after posting five wins from eight games for Serie A – and just one loss from their last 10 all told – Maurizio Sarri men must face the ultimate test.
With the Scudetto wrapped up, Inter go surely rest some players ahead of the cup final, and Chivu get plenty of options to choose from. Only two men dey sidelined: Hakan Calhanoglu go miss out with thigh injury and Pio Esposito don left for Milan due to minor back problem. The latter fit dey absent, but Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram dey available: the pair na Serie A top two marksmen this season, with Martinez holding three-goal lead for the Capocannoniere race.
While Thuram don recently score six times for im last five league appearances, Lazio most productive player na Gustav Isaksen, wey only don net five goals all season. Just behind am for four, veteran winger Pedro memorably score twice against Inter around this time last year, effectively costing dem the title. Both must vie with several contenders for selection, as Boulaye Dia and Tijjani Noslin find the net last week, while Matteo Cancellieri dey back from ban and captain Mattia Zaccagni recently return to action.
With key defender Mario Gila and playmaker Nicolo Rovella also fit again, only Danilo Cataldi and goalkeepers Ivan Provedel and Alessio Furlanetto dey ruled out. Neither side go want to go full gas for this game, wey come just after Inter coronation as Serie A champions and just before next week cup final. So, low-key draw na the likeliest outcome, setting the stage for much more important clash at Stadio Olimpico four days later.
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