Locked together in a fascinating Serie A title race, Lazio and Inter Milan will square off in Monday's showdown at Stadio Olimpico.
Reigning champions Inter are aiming to reach 10 games unbeaten in the Italian top flight, while their hosts have recently impressed on three fronts.
Match preview
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Continuing a superb surge of form, Lazio have been busy progressing their quest for some silverware over the past couple of weeks - beating Napoli in both Serie A and the Coppa Italia before extending an undefeated streak in the Europa League.
Just a few days after eliminating them from the cup in Rome, Marco Baroni's men knocked the former league leaders off their perch by winning 1-0 at Stadio Maradona and moving to within three points of first place.
Then, the Aquile flew to Amsterdam for a midweek clash with Ajax, in which evergreen winger Pedro played a central role, scoring the third goal as his side secured an impressive 3-1 success.
Having kept a grip on top spot and almost certainly booked their place in the Europa League's last 16, Lazio can reflect on two significant away wins.
While they have sometimes come up short on the road, the capital club are imperious at Stadio Olimpico, dropping only two Serie A points there this season: another home victory on Monday would see them reach 34 points after 16 matches for just the second time this century.
However, Lazio have won just two of their last eight league meetings with Inter, who have held the upper hand since spiriting away the Biancocelesti's once beloved former boss.
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Once again, Simone Inzaghi will return to his old club, who he first played for and then managed a club-record 197 times in Serie A between 2016 and 2021, recording 108 wins in the process.
Inter's highly-rated head coach is unbeaten in his last four games against Lazio - having lost two of the first three after leaving - and putting all friendships aside, he will be intent on continuing that trend.
Since claiming their 20th Scudetto last season, the Nerazzurri have lost just twice in 20 matches this term, and they are alongside Lazio in an enthralling race for first place.
Last week's 3-1 victory over Parma means that Inter have scored three or more times in half of their 14 league fixtures; that has also helped their annual away-goal tally up to 41 throughout 2024 - only five shy of the club's all-time best.
Furthermore, with another success at Stadio Olimpico, they would also equal their record for away victories in a calendar year, which stands at 13 - recorded in 2007 and again three years ago.
Though their unbeaten streak in Serie A has now reached nine matches, Inzaghi saw his side suffer a rare setback last week, when they lost out in a battle between the German and Italian league champions.
Despite losing to a last-minute goal against Bayer Leverkusen - and surrendering their status as the only team yet to concede - Inter are still on course to reach the Champions League's last 16, as one of six teams sitting just behind the top two.
Team News
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As Lazio's top scorer Taty Castellanos will serve a suspension for accumulated bookings, Marco Baroni must make a change to his in-form front line, with the main candidate to step in being Tijjani Noslin, who recently notched a Coppa Italia hat-trick against Napoli.
Baroni has cleared up concerns about defensive duo Luca Pellegrini and Patric after both were withdrawn due to picking up knocks in Amsterdam, while ex-Inter midfielder Matias Vecino and experienced centre-back Alessio Romagnoli are also set to be passed fit for Monday's game.
The hosts can also call upon Spanish veteran Pedro - Lazio's leading scorer in the Europa League, on four goals - while ever-present Matteo Guendouzi runs the engine room alongside Nicolo Rovella.
Meanwhile, former Biancocelesti defender Francesco Acerbi will be Inter's most notable absentee, due to a thigh injury, while Benjamin Pavard and back-up goalkeeper Raffaele Di Gennaro are also sidelined.
Denzel Dumfries missed out on the trip to Leverkusen because of illness, but the Nerazzurri's Dutch wing-back should now return, replacing Matteo Darmian on the right flank.
Up front, captain Lautaro Martinez will come in for misfiring striker Mehdi Taremi, reprising his partnership with Marcus Thuram. The latter has been directly involved in 20 Serie A goals throughout 2024, topping the charts alongside Atalanta BC trio Mateo Retegui, Ademola Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere.
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Lazzari, Gila, Patric, Tavares; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen, Pedro, Zaccagni; Noslin
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Bisseck, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram
We say: Lazio 2-2 Inter Milan
With both clubs in fine form, an absorbing contest should be in store at Stadio Olimpico, where Lazio are yet to lose this season.
Even if the visitors establish a lead, there could well be a late twist: no team have scored more often than the Aquile during the last 15 minutes, while ageing Inter have conceded a league-high 47% of their goals within that same period.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
