Entwined in a thrilling Serie A title battle, Lazio and Inter Milan gear up for Monday’s high-stakes showdown at Stadio Olimpico.

Defending champions Inter are chasing a 10-game unbeaten streak in the Italian top flight, while Lazio have showcased impressive form across three competitions in recent weeks. Building momentum, Lazio have bolstered their silverware ambitions with a series of strong performances. They eliminated Napoli from the Coppa Italia and then defeated them in Serie A, followed by an undefeated run in the Europa League. Just days after knocking Napoli out of the cup in Rome, Marco Baroni’s side beat the former league leaders 1-0 at Stadio Maradona, moving within three points of first place. The Aquile carried that confidence into a midweek trip to Amsterdam, where veteran winger Pedro starred by scoring the third goal in a 3-1 win over Ajax, further solidifying their grip on first place and virtually ensuring a Europa League last-16 berth. At home, Lazio have been near-invincible, dropping just two Serie A points all season at Stadio Olimpico. Another victory on Monday would see them reach 34 points after 16 games, a milestone achieved just once this century.

However, Lazio’s recent record against Inter leaves room for improvement, having won just two of their last eight league meetings. Inter, led by former Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi, have consistently had the upper hand since his departure. Returning to face his old club, where he managed a record 197 Serie A games from 2016 to 2021, Inzaghi is unbeaten in his last four encounters with Lazio, after losing two of the first three. With no room for sentimentality, he will aim to extend that streak. Since securing their 20th Scudetto last season, Inter have been resilient, losing only twice in 20 matches this term and staying locked in the race for the top spot alongside Lazio. Their 3-1 win over Parma last week marked another display of their attacking prowess; Inter have scored three or more goals in half of their 14 league games, bringing their away-goal tally for 2024 to 41—just five shy of a club record. A victory on Monday would also match Inter’s record for away wins in a calendar year, standing at 13, achieved in both 2007 and 2021. Despite their unbeaten domestic streak, Inter faced a rare setback midweek, losing 1-0 to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. A last-minute goal ended their run as the only team yet to concede in the tournament, but Inter remain on track to progress to the last 16.

Lazio will be without their top scorer, Taty Castellanos, who is suspended for accumulated bookings. Marco Baroni is expected to turn to Tijjani Noslin, fresh off a Coppa Italia hat-trick against Napoli, to lead the line. Concerns over Luca Pellegrini and Patric’s fitness have been alleviated, while former Inter midfielder Matias Vecino and centre-back Alessio Romagnoli should also be fit. Spanish veteran Pedro, Lazio’s Europa League top scorer with four goals, could feature alongside midfield engines Matteo Guendouzi and Nicolo Rovella. Inter, meanwhile, will be without former Lazio defender Francesco Acerbi, who is sidelined with a thigh injury, along with Benjamin Pavard and backup goalkeeper Raffaele Di Gennaro. Denzel Dumfries, who missed the Leverkusen match due to illness, is expected to return, replacing Matteo Darmian on the right. Up front, captain Lautaro Martinez will likely start alongside Marcus Thuram, who has been directly involved in 20 Serie A goals this year, sharing top billing with Atalanta trio Mateo Retegui, Ademola Lookman, and Charles De Ketelaere.

With both sides in stellar form, an engaging encounter is on the cards at Stadio Olimpico, where Lazio remain unbeaten this season. Even if Inter take the lead, a late twist could be in store. Lazio have scored more goals in the final 15 minutes than any other team, while Inter have conceded 47% of their league goals during that same period—the highest in Serie A.

Best Tip: Over 1.5

Correct Score: 1-1