Inter Milan 2-0 Lazio: Biancocelesti’s Purple Patch Expires at San Siro | OneFootball

Lazio’s six-match unbeaten run reached a halt after suffering a 0-2 defeat at San Siro courtesy of Inter Milan.

Inter Milan & Lazio Starting Lineups

Cristian Chivu made six changes to the side that played in the Champions League on Wednesday. Lautaro Martinez and Ange Bonny led the 3-5-2 lineup, with Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu and Petar Sucic in the middle of the park. Denzel Dumfries and Federico Dimarco operated on the wings.

On the contrary, Maurizio Sarri confirmed the same personnel that beat Cagliari on Monday, including Alessio Romagnoli, whose availability was doubtful. Boulaye Dia spearheaded the 4-3-3 formation, flanked by Gustav Isaksen and Mattia Zaccagni, while Toma Basic joined Matteo Guendouzi and Danilo Cataldi in midfield.

Lautaro Martinez Scores Immediately

It only took the home side just over two minutes to break the deadlock. Isaksen was outmuscled by Alessandro Bastoni, who bullied him off the ball in a dangerous area. The defender then picked up his captain, Lautaro Martinez, who rifled a glorious shot towards the top corner, despite being off balance.

Inter & Lazio Trade Blows

After conceding an early goal, Lazio kept their composure. Zaccagni was the visitors’ main source of danger and was battered by the opposition who kept fouling him from start to finish. On the 17th minute, the Biancocelsti skipper cut to the middle and launched a shot towards the far corner, but it sailed over the crossbar.

The Nerazzurri replied with chances of their own, relying on their slick passing, but Sucic and Manuel Akanji couldn’t hit the target.

Ange Bonny Doubles Inter Lead

After the break, Lazio displayed some improvement, but they still ended up conceding another goal at the hour mark. Barella’s wonderful pass picked up Lautaro Martinez on the left wing. The captain then laid it on Dimarco’s path, and the latter put a square ball onto the mouth of the goal that went beyond Romagnoli and Ivan Provedel, allowing Bonny to score with a simple tap-in.

Zielinski & Gila Thought They Had Scored

A few minutes later, Piotr Zielinski finished a lovely passage of play with a clinical shot from the edge of the box. However, the goal was disallowed following an in-field review, as Dimarco had handled the ball while winning back possession from Lazzari.

On the other hand, Pedro’s freekick was headed towards the goal by Mario Gila. After hitting the post, it appeared as if the ball had crossed the goal line, but the replays showed it was the Spaniard’s effort was a few centimetres short of being counted. In the dying minutes, Zaccagni freed up Luca Pellegrini, but the latter couldn’t beat Yann Sommer in the one-on-one.

Therefore, Lazio’s purple patch came to a halt at San Siro, as they have now slipped to 9th place in the Serie A table, while Inter rose to the summit alongside Roma.

Inter 2-0 Lazio

Goals: 3′ Lautaro (I), 62′ Bonny (I)

INTER (3-5-2) : Sommer; Akanji, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries (55′ Carlos Augusto), Barella, Calhanoglu (81′ Frattesi), Sucic (55′ Zielinski), Dimarco; Bonny (81′ Esposito), Lautaro (71′ Thuram)

LAZIO (4-3-3) : Provedel; Lazzari (Pellegrini 69′), Gila, Romagnoli (Provstgaard 75′), Marusic; Guendouzi, Cataldi (Vecino 65′), Basic; Isaksen (Pedro 65′), Dia (Noslin 65′), Zaccagni.

Referee: Manganiello;  Assistants: Berti – Cecconi;  Fourth Official: Bonacina;  VAR: Di Paolo;  VAR: Aureliano

Yellow cards: 32′ Akanji (I), 36′ Sucic (I), 51′ Dumfries (I), 72′ Zaccagni (L).