Two weeks after extending their unbeaten Serie A record to seven games, Inter Milan visit Stadio Olimpico, where they meet an inconsistent Lazio side.

While the champions - under ex-Biancocelesti coach Simone Inzaghi - won at Sassuolo last time out to sit third in the table, their hosts were surprisingly beaten by Bologna; continuing their hit-and-miss start to the campaign.

Match preview

Victory over both bitter rivals Roma in the Derby della Capitale and then Lokomotiv Moscow in the Europa League preceded Serie A's seventh round for Lazio, apparently setting them up well for a third straight win, at mid-table Bologna.

However, the Aquile returned home from Stadio Renato Dall'Ara with nothing to show for their efforts, having been handed a chastening 3-0 defeat by the Emilian side, who flew out of the gates to lead by two in the 17th minute.

Despite having more than an hour left to salvage the game, Lazio - who are also yet to keep a clean sheet in the league - could only muster a paltry four shots on target in all, to leave them languishing sixth in the standings, already adrift of the unbeaten top three.

Though coach Maurizio Sarri grumbled darkly about being made to play at Sunday lunchtime, not long after their Thursday night Europa League engagement, the Biancocelesti's resurgence - after a previous four-match winless run - has been stopped in its tracks.

Ahead of Inzaghi's Inter coming to the capital, though, Lazio are unbeaten in their last 16 home matches in the Italian top flight (winning 14), which represents their longest such streak since 2002, when they reached 22 games undefeated on home soil.

While Sarri's side have been able to retain the Olimpico's status as a Roman fortress this season, his highly-scrutinised tactics will now be put to the test versus his immediate predecessor and the current Scudetto-holders, against whom the Aquile have won only two of their last 10 Serie A matches.

While the previously popular Inzaghi returns to his former home in rival colours, sure to receive a hostile reception from the jilted Lazio ultras, the Inter coach can travel to the capital assured that he made the right move.

Having succeeded Scudetto-winning boss Antonio Conte amid a financial crisis at the Milan giants, many observers questioned his ability to maintain such high standards after a special season in 2020-21.

Before the international break pressed pause on their progress, Inter played out a thrilling, incident-packed draw with Lombardy rivals Atalanta, before coming from behind to beat Sassuolo 2-1 thanks to goals from both members of their new-look front pair - Lautaro Martinez and Edin Dzeko.

That continued a free-scoring start to Inzaghi's reign, which has seen the Nerazzurri score twice or more in each of their first seven matches of a Serie A season for the first time in their long and glorious history. Furthermore, despite firing consecutive blanks in the Champions League, they have registered 22 goals in domestic competition so far this term: their best tally at this stage since 1950.

As the club announced annual losses of over £200m earlier this month, they will apparently need to raise money by selling off further assets in the mid-season transfer window, following the summer exits of Achraf Hakimi and Romelu Lukaku. Therefore, Inzaghi may need to strike while the iron is hot, as he could see his talented squad diminished by January's end.

With that in mind, he will hope to use his inside knowledge of Lazio - gleaned during 197 games in charge of the Roman club - to help Inter pick up maximum points and stay in touch with leaders Napoli and city rivals Milan.

Team News

After missing out on Italy's Nations League matches with a thigh injury, Lazio will have star striker Ciro Immobile back in action on Saturday; reuniting the forward triumvirate favoured by Maurizio Sarri, alongside Felipe Anderson and Pedro.

Both Immobile and previously injured midfielder Mattia Zaccagni have featured in training at Formello this week, so Sarri should have a full squad to choose from - aside from one important defensive absentee.

Centre-back Francesco Acerbi will miss out, as he serves a suspension for being red-carded at Bologna, so Patric and Stefan Radu are competing for the Italian international's place in the hosts' back four.

Inter, meanwhile, have also received positive news regarding the availability of their own main man up front, as Lautaro Martinez should be fit to feature against the Biancocelesti, following fears that both he and Joaquin Correa would be ruled out after picking up knocks on international duty with Argentina.

While Edin Dzeko is expected to start ahead of Correa in the front two, Ivan Perisic and Denzel Dumfries should operate as wing-backs in Simone Inzaghi's customary 3-5-2 - so familiar to the Lazio fans. However, Matteo Darmian and Federico Dimarco are alternative options pushing for a place on the flanks.

Midfielder Stefano Sensi is close to returning from the knee injury which has ruled him out of the last few matches, and he could also be included in the squad that travels to Rome.

Lazio possible starting lineup:
Reina; Marusic, Felipe, Patric, Hysaj; Alberto, Milinkovic-Savic, Leiva; Pedro, Immobile, Anderson

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Handanovic; Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Perisic; Martinez, Dzeko

We say: Lazio 1-1 Inter Milan

Though Lazio's defensive deficiencies have undermined their consistency this term - and Inter are seemingly able to score at will - the home side always take inspiration from performing at the Olimpico, and can therefore share the spoils on Saturday.

The champions are likely to be frustrated in their efforts to claw back ground on the two teams above them, ahead of a big week in which they face both Sheriff and Juventus back home in Milan.

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