Lazio, Pedro and Inter: return to San Siro after title twist | OneFootball

The Spanish superstar returns to the stadium where, on May 18, he stunned the Nerazzurri and made Naples explode with joy

Lazio, Pedro and Inter: return to San Siro, six months after the night that changed the title race

The time of a football breath: just six months. On May 18, 2025, Pedro Rodríguez shook San Siro with a double that changed the history of the championship. That night, while Inter saw the title slip away, Naples celebrated. And Pedro became, unintentionally, a blue idol.

“It was an extraordinary match, Lazio played with pride. There was no revenge, just professionalism,” they recall in Formello. But that double – two strokes of genius and composure – remains an open wound in the Nerazzurri's memory and the last flash of the talent from Tenerife in the white and sky-blue jersey.

The night that changed a championship

That 2-1 on May 18 is etched in the chronicles of Italian football. On the penultimate day, Inzaghi's Inter collapsed at home and virtually handed the tricolor to Conte's Napoli. Pedro, 38, became the symbol of a crossroads that united three cities, three destinies, and one truth in a single evening: football can still be unpredictable.

It wasn't just Lazio that gained glory. Naples adopted him as an unexpected hero – even to the point of creating famous nativity figurines dedicated to the Spaniard – while in Milan, a sports trial of regrets and empty gazes began.

The present: a Pedro in search of himself

Today, however, time has shuffled the cards. Pedro is no longer the player who finished last season with 10 goals in Serie A and 4 in the Europa League. His physical condition is inconsistent, and his impact less brilliant. In Maurizio Sarri's new tactical context, his talent struggles to fully express itself.

In the 4-3-3, he is forced into roles that limit his flair: as a pure winger, he must chase, and as a false nine, he remains too isolated. The result is a less incisive presence, though his technical quality remains intact. “Pedro remains an example,” the technical staff explains, “but today he needs to be managed, not exhausted.”

With Marco Baroni, last season, he regained freedom and creativity by playing as a second striker behind a fixed center forward. Today, that dimension has been lost. His last appearance, against Cagliari, lasted just six minutes: a symbolic entry, more than a decisive one.

The man of great nights

Pedro, however, is someone who lights up in crucial moments. And Inter is a spark that can reignite everything. Against the Nerazzurri, he has scored 5 goals in his career (3 with Lazio, 2 with Barcelona), more than against any other Italian team. Only Espanyol and Rayo Vallecano have suffered more from him, confirming a tradition that ties him to high-tension matches.

“San Siro is a special place, I've experienced strong emotions there,” he confided to a friend. And it's not hard to believe that tomorrow, returning to that stadium, Pedro will seek not only redemption but confirmation that talent – his talent – knows no expiration.

Last season, last challenge

The 38-year-old Spaniard has already announced that this will be his last season with Lazio. But he wants to close it leaving a mark, not a parenthesis. For a footballer who has won everything – from the Champions League to the World Cup – motivation today comes from pride and the thrill of the challenge.

San Siro, the theater of his last great night, can become the starting point again. That May 18, after all, is not a distant memory: it is still an open wound for Inter and a dream still alive for Pedro.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.