Serie A: Lazio Dare to Dream as Icardi Nears Return

Inter Milan vs Lazio

It was on the final day of the Serie A campaign last season that a meeting between these two sides had SBOBET fans on the edge of their seats.

A showdown to secure fourth place and the lucrative final spot in the Champions League.

As Serie A highlights go, coupled with the dramatic intervention of then Lazio player but Inter bound Stefan De Virj, it was pretty much as compelling as it could be.

There isn’t quite as much at stake ahead of this weekend’s clash in the San Siro but potentially it could be just as crucial come the end of the 2018/19 season.

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Serie A

Talking Points

This time Inter hold the shots going into the encounter.

They currently sit in third place with a six point cushion over fifth placed Roma (the top four all qualify for next season’s UCL) and an eight point advantage over sixth placed Lazio – albeit Le Aquile have a game in hand.

They also return after the international break in confident spirits after overcoming injury woes to edge a thrilling Milan derby last time out – a result which lifted them above their city rivals in the table.

Moreover, influential skipper Mauro Icardi is on his way back.

Until earlier this week, the striker had not even trained with his teammates since he was stripped of the captaincy on February 13 – officially due to a knee injury, but intensive negotiations and an all-clear from the club doctor points to considerably more.

Although the reasons for his absence or fall-out – call it what you may – have not been revealed, now he is ready to return and that could only be good news for the Milan giants.

Yes, Inter have fared well without Icardi.

Indeed, since the Argentine’s last game against Parma, the team has won five, drawn two and lost two in all competitions. They have also scored 16 times in nine games without their top scorer and the pressure on the likes of Matias Vecino, de Vrij, Matteo Politano, Roberto Gagliardini and Ivan Perisic to provide the goal threat has been accepted.

Yet with Icardi returning, coach Luciano Spalletti will find a team which is fully aware it can operate without him but now have the benefit of him as an outlet.

Lazio know only too well about his talents.

He was the main man in a convincing win in their meeting earlier in the campaign and someone who has scored 53 times for the Nerazzurri in the previous two campaigns.

A win against Inter Milan would mark a turning point of the entire Serie A campaign for Lazio — Lazio’s Danilo Cataldi celebrates scoring their third goal

This season he has nine goals in 18 Serie A starts, two in two in the Coppa Italia and four goals in six Champions League games.

For all the controversy which can surround him, he is an asset that most teams would miss.

Lazio know they need to realistically win in the San Siro to give themselves a chance of a top four finish.

They have been impressive of late with convincing victories over Roma and Parma, plus a draw at Fiorentina, yet realistically are still counting the cost of a miserable December which included draws with Chievo and Sampdoria and a defeat at surprise package Atalanta.

As Joaquin Correa put it though, Lazio “can dream” of a Champions League spot if they beat Inter at San Siro. “We need head and heart together.”

It’s all to play for this weekend.

History

As well as the last two victories mentioned – this season and on the final day of last – Inter have a fine record against Lazio.

Lazio have only won two of their last 10 meetings – a league double in the 2015/16 season – while Inter have tasted success in four of the last five clashes with Icardi scoring five times.

This corresponding fixture last term finished goalless.

Historically in the Italian top flight, Inter have won 63 times compared to 53 draws and Lazio’s 35 successes.

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