Inter Milan vs Lazio
Italian Serie A – Season 2016/17
Date: Wednesday, 21st December 2016
Kick-Off: 19:45 UK,
Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro), Milan.
Inter Milan has struggled in the early part of the season but has found their form in the past several rounds. The team has been unbeaten in five of their last six matches, including a two-game winning run, to climb to the seventh spot of the league table. They are now six points below the final Europa League qualifying berth for next season presently occupied by cross-city rivals AC Milan.
In their most recent fixture, I Nerazzurri nipped lowly team Sassuolo, 1-0, on the road at the Mapei Stadium-Città del Tricolore last Sunday, Goal reported.
After a goalless first half of play, Italian winger Antonio Candreva broke the game's deadlock in the 47th minute with a right-footed shot with the assist coming from team captain Mauro Icardi.
Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo was sent off in stoppage time after getting booked with a second yellow card, but head coach Stefano Pioli's squad was able to hold on to the one-goal win.
Meanwhile, Lazio has also been undefeated in five of their last six matches. Like Inter, they are currently on a two-game winning run as well.
I Biancocelesti routed Fiorentina, 3-1, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome last Sunday to remain in the fourth place in the overall standings, as per ESPN.
Senegalese forward Keita Balde scored the opening goal of the game in the 23rd minute for Lazio while team captain Lucas Biglia doubled their lead in the first half injury time.
Viola was able to trim the gap in the 64th minute with a goal from Argentine forward Mauro Zarate, but head coach Simone Inzaghi's side sealed the win right at the stroke of full-time with Romanian defender Stefan Radu's strike.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a close 2-1 victory for Lazio.
Inter Milan starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Handanovic; Ansaldi, Miranda, D'Ambrosio, Murillo; Perisic, Mario; Banega, Candreva, Brozovic; Icardi
Lazio starting lineup (3-5-2 formation): Marchetti; Radu, de Vrij, Jacinto; Lulic, Cataldi, Milinkovic-Savic, Biglia, Anderson; Keita, Immobile
Inter Milan vs Lazio: Head-to-head Stats
Lazio won both Serie A fixtures of 2015/16 season against Inter Milan; 2-1 at San Siro and 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.
Inter have a better record in home matches against Lazio as they are winners in 8 of the last 13, with 2 draws and 3 losses. But Lazio are unbeaten in their last two visits here, with a win in the latest followed by a draw.
The last six matches between the two sides at the San Siro have seen 3 or more goals.
Inter Milan vs Lazio: Prediction
This is an extremely difficult fixture to call as the two teams in action are inseparable on paper. On top of that, both are coming on the back of some good results. Inter Milan have picked up 6 straight home wins, whereas Lazio are unbeaten in their last 5 away games. So it will be better to avoid betting on full-time result for this match.
The best pick for this match is both teams to score and over 2.5 goals as we have seen in the last 6 meetings at San Siro. Also, Lazio have scored in 7 of their 8 away games this season. While Inter have failed to score in only one of their 11 matches in all competitions at home.
Inter Milan vs Lazio: Bet Tips
Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals at 1.83 (5/6).
