Inter v Lazio: all you need to know

MILAN – Inter host Lazio at the San Siro on Sunday 9 January (20:45 CET) after Maurizio Sarri's team drew 3-3 with Empoli in midweek. The Biancocelesti have 32 points from their first 20 fixtures (W9, D5, L6).

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS 

Inter and Lazio have faced off 157 times in Serie A, with 65 Nerazzurri wins, 38 for Lazio and 54 draws. 

Inter have won two of the last six league fixtures with Lazio (D1, L3). The Biancocelesti inflicted the first and so far only Serie A defeat on Simone Inzaghi's Inter last October: 3-1 in the capital. Since then the Nerazzurri have won nine and drawn two games, letting in just four goals in the process.

Inter have found the net in each of their last five league meetings with Lazio. The last time they scored in six or more consecutive games against them was a run of 13 ending in 2012.

None of the last 13 league encounters between these sides in the second half of the season has ended all square: eight Nerazzurri wins and five for Lazio.

SAN SIRO BATTLES

Inter have lost just one of their last five home clashes with Lazio (W3, D1), keeping three clean sheets. The Biancocelesti's only victory in that period was a 1-0 success in March 2019, with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic bagging the winner.

FORM BOOK

Inter are currently on a 26-match unbeaten home run in Serie A – their second-longest since the early '90s. The longest was a 46-game streak between 2008 and 2010.

For the first time in club history, the Nerazzurri have won six back-to-back Serie A matches without conceding a single goal. 

Only once have they kept seven consecutive clean sheets: between January and March 1971.

This season is just the second time since 2008/09 that Inter have collected more than 45 points in the first half of the season, after doing so in 2019/20 (46 points, before drawing the 20th game).

Lazio have scored three goals in each of their last three league outings. The last time they scored three or more goals in four consecutive Serie A matches was in 2002, when Inter were the opposition in their fourth game.

Two of Lazio's three away wins this term have come in their last three away trips (against Sampdoria and Verona). A win on Sunday would see them record back-to-back victories on the road for the first time since April 2011.

Lazio have conceded 18 goals in their last eight league fixtures – more than any other Serie A side since 20 November. They have let in 37 total goals already this season; not since 1960/61 have they conceded more (38 in that case).

GENERAL STATS 

Lazio (19%) and Inter (15%) are the two teams with the highest shots-to-goals percentage this term. Inter have also had the most shots (330). 

Only Atalanta (14) have earned more points from a losing position in 2021/22 than Lazio (13) and Inter (13).

Inter have scored 12 headed goals in the current league campaign. Lazio, who scored two headers in their last game against Empoli, have scored the second most (10), having managed seven in the whole of last season. 

Inter and Lazio have scored the most goals from crosses this season (12 each).

PLAYERS 

Arturo Vidal has been involved in more goals against Lazio (four goals, two assists) than against any other team, with two of his five Serie A doubles coming against them. 

Danilo D'Ambrosio has found the net twice in his last three starts against Lazio in Serie A.

Edin Dzeko has faced Lazio 13 times in Serie A – this will be the first time outside of the Stadio Olimpico. He has managed just one goal (January 2020) in his last 11 league meetings with them.

Denzel Dumfries has been involved in a goal or an assist every 164 minutes in Serie A this term (three goals and two assists in 822 minutes) – the best record among defenders who have played at least 400 minutes.

If they play, Matteo Darmian's next appearance will be his 250th in the top five European leagues while Roberto Gagliardini could make his 150th for Inter in all competitions.

Milan Skriniar made his Serie A debut against Lazio in April 2016 while playing for Sampdoria.

Several Nerazzurri players plied their trade at Lazio before joining Inter. Aleksandar Kolarov turned out for the capital club 82 times in Serie A, scoring six goals. Stefan de Vrij played 95 matches and scored eight goals while Joaquin Correa racked up 92 appearances and 22 goals.

Samir Handanovic played once in the league for the Biancocelesti during a loan spell in 2005/06. The goalkeeper is one clean sheet away from his 150th for Inter in all competitions.