Five Key Battles in Inter Milan vs Lazio: Lautaro & Gila Prepare for Thriller | OneFootball

In one of the most anticipated contests of Serie A matchday 11, Inter Milan will host Lazio at San Siro on Sunday.

In his pre-match press conference, Maurizio Sarri spoke about the gulf in quality between his players and Cristian Chivu’s, admitting that Biancocelesti would have to defy logic to prevail over the northern giants.

On paper, Inter players have the upper hand over their Lazio counterparts. But as the Cliché goes, matches are won on the pitch, and Sarri has called on his players to show desire and determination in the hope of overturning the odds, so it remains to be seen how the following battles will unfold, as they will have major implications on the outcome.

Alessandro Bastoni vs Gustav Isaksen

After opening his account for the season against Cagliari, Gustav Isaksen will be looking for another influential performance. However, he’ll be up against one of the most celebrated defenders in the league. Not only is Alessandro Bastoni known for his defensive credentials, but also for his sublime crosses.

Hence, the Dane must repeatedly track back to shut down the danger posed by Inter’s terrifying left flank, which also features Federico Dimarco.

Hakan Calhanoglu vs Boulaye Dia

Unfortunately for Boulaye Dia, he hasn’t been able to offer the required attacking threat during Taty Castellanos’ absence. Nevertheless, Sarri commended the Senegalese for putting in the miles, so we can expect more of the same on Sunday.

With the Biancocelesti adopting a low defensive block, the striker will likely be tasked with pressing Hakan Calhanoglu, giving him little time and space to pull the strings in midfield. If Dia were to succeed in this mission, it might make up for his shortcomings in attack.

Nicolo Barela vs Toma Basic

Toma Basic is one of the best comeback stories of the year, but he’s about to meet his strongest foe to date. Nicolo Barella is arguably the best box-to-box midfielder in Serie A, so it remains to be seen whether the revitalized Croatian will be able to cope with his stamina, and above all, his elusive technique.

Denzel Dumfries vs Adam Marusic

This is a pending one, since we’re not certain which flank Adam Marusic will occupy, but most sources tip him to start at left-back, sparking a run-in with Denzel Dumfries. While these two aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing players in Serie A, they have long been unsung heroes for their respective clubs due to their tenacity and dedication to the cause.

Hence, we wouldn’t be surprised if either one ends up playing an integral role in his team’s victory.

Lautaro Martinez vs Mario Gila

Had this been a boxing card, the battle between Lautaro Martinez and Mario Gila would certainly be the main event of the evening. After all, this one pits the league’s most complete striker against Lazio’s most consistent performer this season. Curiously, these two also share the same agent in Alejandro Camano.

If Lazio were to survive Inter’s onslaught, they would need their Spanish centre-back to be at the top of his game.