Playing their final home fixture of a stellar Serie A season, champions Inter Milan welcome Lazio to San Siro on Sunday evening.
While Inter have long since secured a 20th Scudetto and can afford to take their foot off the gas, their visitors from the capital are aiming to seal a spot in Europe for next season.
Match preview
© Reuters
After a rare setback, in the shape of losing to lowly Sassuolo for the second time this season, Inter returned to their ruthless best last weekend, dismantling relegation-threatened Frosinone at Stadio Stirpe.
The Nerazzurri's five goals - including one for Capocannoniere rankings leader Lautaro Martinez - took them onto a total of 101 overall; the fifth straight season in which they have racked up a century across all competitions.
As a result of their latest success, Simone Inzaghi's side have claimed 92 points so far; if they win both of their final two matches, they will establish a new club record - surpassing the 97 points earned in 2006-07.
In addition to their attacking prowess, Inter have now kept as many as 21 clean sheets in a Serie A season for the first time in their history, and one more this week would see them tie Italy's top-flight record, currently held by their two fiercest foes, AC Milan and Juventus.
Both rivals have been left trailing in the Nerazzurri's wake this term, although they failed to build on last year's Champions League final appearance by exiting in the first knockout round.
Reclaiming Europe's top trophy will be one of Inzaghi's objectives for next season, but more immediately, Inter host his former club, who they beat 2-0 in December's reverse fixture and could do the double over for a first time in seven years.
© Reuters
Following four straight losses to Inter at San Siro, with an aggregate scoreline of 9-3 in the Milan club's favour, Lazio will perhaps travel from Rome to the second city in some trepidation.
The Biancocelesti also have a fairly modest away record this season, so tackling the undisputed Italian champions in their own backyard is sure to prove a tough test.
Nonetheless, a run of four wins from five has kept the capital club in touch with Serie A's top six, and if they can overtake arch-rivals Roma while Atalanta BC win the Europa League, Champions League qualification could be theirs.
More likely is a place in one of UEFA's lesser competitions, but even that minor achievement was in some doubt when Maurizio Sarri departed Stadio Olimpico under a cloud.
Since current coach Igor Tudor's first game in charge, Lazio have accrued a league-leading 16 points from seven matches - level with Inter and Atalanta - and only Bologna have conceded fewer goals.
Tudor's side kept another clean sheet last time out, as Patric and Matias Vecino struck at the end of either half to secure a 2-0 home win over Empoli; now, though, they must take on much more challenging opponents.
Team News
© Reuters
With only ex-Lazio defender Francesco Acerbi a doubt due to injury, Inter have an almost full squad for their final home match; so after resting some players against Frosinone, Simone Inzaghi is set to name his strongest available XI.
Alessandro Bastoni, Benjamin Pavard and Hakan Calhanoglu should therefore join captain Lautaro Martinez in returning to the starting lineup on Sunday.
The latter has scored 24 goals in Serie A so far, and he could become just the third Inter player this century to net at least 25 times in a single league season: Mauro Icardi (29 in 2017-18) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (25 in 2008-09) were the others.
While Martinez will rejoin Marcus Thuram in the hosts' potent front pair, Lazio forward Felipe Anderson will be keenly anticipating his club's trip to Milan: the Brazilian has scored six times against Inter to date, including a brace at San Siro in 2014.
Anderson is set to make his 250th Serie A appearance, but he may start on the bench; Daichi Kamada and Mattia Zaccagni are instead expected to support either Taty Castellanos or all-time top scorer Ciro Immobile up front.
First-choice goalkeeper Ivan Provedel is fit again following injury and replaces his deputy Christos Mandas, who has impressed since stepping into the side.
Meanwhile, an enforced change in defence should see Nicolo Casale or Mario Gila replace suspended centre-back Alessio Romagnoli.
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Patric, Casale, Hysaj; Marusic, Rovella, Vecino, Pellegrini; Kamada, Zaccagni; Castellanos
We say: Inter Milan 2-1 Lazio
With the hard work done, Inter have little left to play for, but they hold a proud home record and will be keen to avoid defeat against in-form Lazio.
Back to full strength, the champions should be able to unpick their visitors' improving defence, taking them closer to a club-record points total.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
