Serie A giants Inter and Lazio are set for an exciting clash at Giuseppe Meazza, with both sides yet to ensure Champions League qualification.
The Neroazzurri have been made favourites by many major soccer betting sportsbooks, but Leonardo’s side are likely to face a tough task against in-form Lazio.
Following the disappointing elimination from the Champions League and two Serie A defeats that ended their scudetto hopes, Inter showed some improvement to win the Coppa Italia first leg against Roma, with the victory at Olimpico serving as major confidence boost before the Lazio clash.
Being three and four points clear of Lazio and Udinese respectively, Inter have got a great chance to cement the third place in the standings, even if the media believe this team are well past their prime.
“For five years we win everything but people can’t wait for us to slip up so they can condemn us. When we lose now everyone says all of the success is in the past. They are wrong,” Dejan Stankovic told Italian media.
“We need to make sure we are hard to beat and remain compact in all areas until the end of the season.”
With Samuel Eto’o only fit to make the bench, Giampaolo Pazzini and Diego Milito are set to form the attacking partnership, while Yuto Nagatomo will be preferred to Cristian Chivu. Apart from Ivan Cordoba, Leonardo will have full squad to choose from.
Lazio have done pretty well this term, but the Biancocelesti cannot afford to relax just yet since they are just one point clear of fifth-placed Udinese.
The impressive victories over Parma and Catania saw Edy Reja’s side dislodge Udinese from the final Champions League berth, but they now have to make sure to remain there come end of the season.
Coach Edy Reja remains under pressure despite the team’s impressive showings this season, but club president Claudio Lotito voiced his support for the experienced coach.
“We have never had the problem of hiring a new coach and we have never thought about replacing Reja,” Lotito was quoted as saying.
“I have great respect and consideration for the coach and I believe that there is a good relationship between us.”
Turning to the clash against Inter, Lotito said:
“They have shown themselves to be a great team and we’ll go into the game with the same profile as we did against Catania, obviously with great determination and a good dose of humility. In this way we can do well.”
Lazio enter the game without Modibo Diakite, Stefan Radu and Giuseppe Sculli, who are all out through injuries, whereas Matuzalem is suspended.
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