Inter continue their streak with a 1 - 0 win over Lazio

MILAN – The run continues. Inter beat Lazio 1-0 at San Siro and picked up their fifth successive league win in the process: 15 points, another clean sheet (ten goals scored in total and one conceded) and another display of character, determination, desire and passion. D’Ambrosio’s goal decided the match following a fantastic Biraghi assist, the latter making his debut for the Nerazzurri for the second time. It was a tough match, as is always the case against the Biancocelesti. Captain Handanovic, making his 300th Inter appearance, was very much needed: he produced some fantastic saves in the opening period that must be seen again. Nicolò Barella was another player who made his mark on the match: he was a real driving force in midfield as he put in a fantastic performance in front of the Inter faithful.

The first scare of the match came in the 16th minute, when Handanovic was forced to come out to deny Caicedo after a mistake by D’Ambrosio. Two minutes later, Inter threatened: Lukaku found Politano in the box, but the Italian couldn’t quite get his feet sorted out and the chance went begging. This was a sign that Inter were finally finding space in midfield, with the Biancocelesti having done well to cut the Nerazzurri off up until that point. With 23 minutes on the clock, Inter took the lead, and it was a goal that came about through Inter’s wide players. Biraghi, 3,214 days after his last appearance for the Club (he last took to the pitch for the Nerazzurri 3,214 days ago in a Champions League match against Werder Bremen in Decemer 2010), whipped in a superb cross for D’Ambrosio, who got above Jony and headed past Strakosha. But Lazio weren’t going to go down without a fight, and they immediately looked to come forward.

Then began Correa's personal battle against Handanovic. The Argentine tried an effort in the 24th minute which seemed unstoppable, but Handanovic flew down in order to push it round the post for a corner. The game then exploded into life, with a rampant Lazio really testing Inter, who almost found a second as Lukaku’s longshot fizzed past Strakosha's post. However, Correa still proved a threat, with two chances coming in two minutes between the 34th and 35th. First he popped up in front of Handanovic after an excellent and deceptive touch from Caicedo, but his touch goalwards went wide. Then he met Parolo’s cross with a powerful right foot: Handanovic’s reaction time was simply unbelievable, with a save at his near post to keep the ball out of the net.

A match of fighting and sacrifice: Barella repeatedly won the ball back as the physicality of the clash rose even further. However Lazio still posed a threat with Caicedo in superb form: he played in Bastos, who found space in the area and fired a shot off along the ground, only kept out by yet another spectacular diving save from captain Handanovic.

The second half began just the same: Correa up against Handanovic, but this time the Argentine couldn’t get his header on target. The game began to open up as players tired and space began to appear. It was Barella who managed to exploit this, finding more and more joy in the Lazio half of the pitch and able to break through one-on-one with Strakosha. A desperate save from the Lazio goalkeeper, with the rebound falling to Politano who was faced with an empty net, but somehow the goalkeeper recovered quickly enough and got back for a second save. Lots of chances, with a few mistakes but a constant intensity. Sensi then came on for Vecino and made his presence known in the 69th minute, grazing the crossbar with a right-footed effort from the edge of the area after some great link-up with Lukaku. A match still well and truly in the balance. In the 72nd minute, Lukaku tried again from outside of the area, finding space but firing over the bar. Having just come on, Sanchez made an impact in the 83rd minute, backheeling to Barella before he played in Lautaro Martinez whose shot was deflected out for a corner. With Lazio’s pressure dropping off, Inter managed to keep the ball well in the opposition half. A chance to kill off the game came in the 92nd minute as Lautaro nicked the ball inside the area only to drill his shot just wide of Strakosha’s post.

The second never came, but the three points certainly did: a well-earned result from a fantastic team effort, which will be vital in preparation for Inter’s next challenges, starting in Genoa on Saturday as the Nerazzurri face Sampdoria at 18:00 CEST. As always, #ForzaInter!

INTER 1-0 LAZIOINTER (3-5-2): 1 Handanovic; 2 Godin, 6 De Vrij, 37 Skriniar; 33 D'Ambrosio, 23 Barella, 77 Brozovic, 8 Vecino (12 Sensi 57'), 34 Biraghi; 16 Politano (10 Lautaro Martinez 77'), 9 Lukaku (7 Sanchez 83'). Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 13 Ranocchia, 21 Dimarco, 95 Bastoni, 5 Gagliardini, 18 Asamoah, 19 Lazaro, 20 Borja Valero,  87 Candreva. Coach: Antonio Conte

LAZIO (3-5-2): 1 Strakosha; 3 Luiz Felipe, 33 Acerbi, 15 Bastos; 29 Lazzari, 21 Milinkovic-Savic (7 Berisha 73'), 16 Parolo, 10 Luis Alberto (6 Leiva 65'), 22 Jony; 20 Caicedo (17 Immobile 53'), 11 Correa. Substitutes: 23 Guerrieri, 24 Proto, 4 Patric, 5 J. Lukaku, 19 Lulic, 32 Cataldi, 34 Adekanye, 77 Marusic, 93 Vavro. Coach: Simone Inzaghi

Goalscorer: 23' D'AmbrosioBookings: Luis Alberto (L), D'Ambrosio (I), Parolo (L), Lautaro Martinez (I)Added time: 3' - 5'Cautions: Simone Inzaghi (L) bookedReferee: MarescaAssistants: Alassio, PaganessiFourth official: FabbriVAR and Assistant VAR: Calvarese, Meli