Lautaro - Thuram, victory in the capital

Inter beat Lazio 2-0 at the Olimpico to extend their lead at the top of the table: after 16 matchdays, the Nerazzurri have 41 points, four more than second-place Juventus. It was another excellent performance from Simone Inzaghi’s men, who came under pressure from Lazio in the early stages without, however, conceding any big chances. Inspired by the excellent Barella, the Nerazzurri grew into the game as the minutes ticked by and took the lead in the 40th minute: Lautaro latched onto a poor Marusic back pass, dribbled past Provedel and, under pressure from two Lazio defenders, calmly placed the ball in the back of the net to make it 1-0. His 15th league goal this season and the 29th time he’s bagged in Serie A in 2023.

Lazio looked to start the second half strongly, but the Nerazzurri backline stood firm. In the end, Sommer kept another clean sheet, his eleventh in 16 Serie A appearances. The second goal arrived midway through the second half: Barella broke on the counter and tried to find Lautaro before picking out Thuram, who shot across goal and into the far bottom corner with his left foot. A host of substitutions didn’t change the course of the match, with Inter well in control and coming close to adding a third through Mkhitaryan and then Frattesi. Lazio finished the match with ten men following Lazzari’s red card for dissent late on.

LAZIO 0-2 INTER

Goalscorers: 40' Lautaro (I), 66' Thuram (I)

LAZIO (4-3-3): 94 Provedel; 29 Lazzari, 15 Casale, 34 Gila, 77 Marusic; 8 Guendouzi, 65 Rovella (32 Cataldi 75'), 6 Kamada (10 Luis Alberto 65'); 7 F. Anderson (19 Castellanos 80'), 17 Immobile, 20 Zaccagni (9 Pedro 75'). Substitutes: 33 Sepe, 35 Mandas, 3 Pellegrini, 4 Patric, 5 Vecino, 23 Hysaj, 26 Basic, 46 Ruggeri. Head Coach: Maurizio Sarri.

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Sommer; 31 Bisseck, 15 Acerbi, 95 Bastoni; 36 Darmian, 23 Barella (16 Frattesi 70'), 20 Çalhanoglu (21 Asllani 89'), 22 Mkhitaryan, 32 Dimarco (30 Carlos Augusto 70'); 9 Thuram (8 Arnautovic 78'), 10 Lautaro (14 Klaassen 89'). Substitutes: 12 Di Gennaro, 77 Audero, 5 Sensi, 28 Pavard, 42 Agoume, 44 Stabile. Head Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

Booked: Thuram (I), Barella (I), Casale (L) Sent off: Lazzari (L) for dissent (87') Added time: 4' - 6'

Referee: Maresca. Assistants: Passeri-Garzelli. Fourth official: Rapuano. VAR: Di Paolo. VAR assistant: Gariglio.

SINISA MIHAJLOVIC REMEMBERED

Before the match at the Olimpico, there was a tribute to remember Sinisa Mihajlovic, who passed away on 16 December 2022.