Inter - Lazio Italy - Serie A Prediction

Inter - Lazio
02.05 20:30
It couldn’t happen, could it? Inter need a win to assuage fears of another late season collapse and welcome a Lazio side who tend to raise their game against the big guns.
The Nerazzurri’s lead at the top of the table was sliced from 10 points to seven last week when Milan notched up a fourth straight victory to take advantage of a surprise 1-0 loss at Napoli. For the second year running Marcelo Zalayeta bagged the only goal at the San Paolo, a stadium that has become something of a curse for Julio Cesar. Combined with the Coppa Italia exit to Sampdoria, it’s not looking too secure at San Siro.
Of course there is no need to panic yet, as that result ended a run of nine victories and four draws since the 3-1 at Atalanta on January 18. It was also the first time the leaders have failed to score in 23 consecutive Serie A matches.
However, the fans cannot forget their history of nervous finales when the title seemed secure, losing out on the last day in 2001 and avoiding a similar fate last season by only 30 minutes. Jose Mourinho is on the bench now, but the players and supporters remember that history all too well, so they expect a sign before the tension builds further.
Lazio have the good fortune of playing without pressure, as they are in the Coppa Italia Final and out of the running for the Europa Cup places in Serie A. That has proved to be a blessing and a curse in recent weeks, as they took their foot off the pedal for a home defeat to Atalanta and became only the second side – after Inter, in fact – to come away from Genoa with three points.
A prestigious fixture like this could bring the best out of Delio Rossi’s boys, especially Mauro Zarate in his aim to prove he’s worth the £16m asked to make his move from Al-Sadd permanent. With Goran Pandev and Simone Inzaghi still injured, Tommaso Rocchi is the inevitable partner with support from either Pasquale Foggia or Stefano Mauri. Christian Manfredini, Emilson Cribari, Mobido Diakhite and former Inter midfielder Ousmane Dabo are also sidelined.
Inter must do without Mario Balotelli and ex-Lazio star Dejan Stankovic due to bans, while Douglas Maicon, Nelson Rivas and Hernan Crespo are on the treatment table. Mourinho has been taking the opportunity to test out his 4-3-1-2 system, mutating into a 4-3-3 at times, but it has not been entirely successful so far.
They threw away a 2-0 lead to draw with Palermo, were held by 10-man Juventus in stoppages and lost at Napoli. Julio Cruz could get the chance to partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic with backing from Luis Figo, although Amantino Mancini and the pacey Victor Obinna are also options.
Lazio’s record was excellent, going unbeaten against Inter in official matches – home or away – for seven years. However, since the 1-0 Coppa Italia defeat here in February 2006, they have lost three at San Siro and drawn 0-0. This includes a spectacular 4-3 result in May 2007, where the Biancocelesti had been leading 2-0 after five minutes.
Keep an eye on: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter) – The Swede is the most decisive player in Serie A, his goals earning 24 of Inter’s total 74 points, so if anyone can knock them out of their recent torpor it has to be Ibra.
Tip: Inter, Odds 1.6; Under 2.5 Goals, Odds 1.95;