Inzaghi to set the record straight against Lazio

The Nerazzurri will be looking to get 2022 off to a good start as they host a patchy Lazio side on Sunday. After their game in midweek away at COVID-stricken Bologna was cancelled at short notice, Simone Inzaghi will be looking to get one over on his former employers at the San Siro.

Inzaghi finding a winning formula

Inter sit top of the tree and now with a game in hand on title and city rivals AC Milan. Their slender one point advantage can be built upon here against a plucky and inconsistent Lazio outfit. Simone Inzaghi has worked wonders with Inter this season. After Antonio Conte left the club, they weren't really considered amongst the favourites to win and therefore retain the Scudetto. But some frugal additions in the summer, including replacing Romelu Lukaku with the experienced Edin Dzeko, has meant that Inter have a really good chance of winning the title for a second season running. If they are to do this, they'll be hoping that there won't be too many disruptions, much like on Thursday. Their scheduled away trip to Bolgona took a bizarre turn after their opponents were ordered into quarantine by local health authorities, naturally meaning the game wouldn't go ahead. However, Inter we're still ordered to show up at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara and warm up on the pitch, at least until the Bologna side didn't turn up. Regardless, this is likely to result in a 3-0 walkover for Inter rather than a rescheduling, meaning that Inter will host Lazio on an impressive run of six wins without a single goal conceded. This is the first time they've achieved this feat in their history, an indication of just how good Inzaghi has been for the Nerazzurri.

Lazio returned with a thriller

Maurizio Sarri's men came back from their winter break and played out a gung-ho 3-3 draw with Serie B champions Empoli. The hosts conceded two goals without reply just ten minutes in, with Empoli catching Lazio cold early on thanks to an early penalty converted by Nedim Bajrami, followed up quickly by a Szymon Żurkowski goal to put Empoli into a shock lead. Lazio had to twice come back from behind, with a 93rd minute equaliser from the ever reliable Sergej Milinkovic-Savic salvaging one point for Lazio with his second goal of the game. Defensively, Lazio have been shaky, but they rarely fire blanks down the other end. As well as this, Sarri will fancy his chances against Inter, a side that he's been unbeaten against in his last seven affairs, winning five of them. The controversial reverse fixture on Rome saw Lazio triumph against Inter, still currently being the only team to do so this season. This impressive feat is unlikely to be repeated however, with the gap between the two sides now upto 14 points and seven places in Serie A separating the two. If they go to the San Siro and play anything resembling their cavalier performance against Empoli on Thursday, then Inter could likely pick them apart and not allow Lazio to make this a contest. But Sarri has more tactical nous than this, and he'll know how to frustrate this Inter side more than anyone else has this season.

While Sarri does have an impressive recent record against the Nerazzurri, this could be a step too far. The hosts haven't lost in the league since their defeat in the reverse fixture, and Inzaghi will be desperate to set the record straight against his former side. This is why I'm going with Inter to win and both teams to score with bet365.

Bet Inter Milan to win and Both Teams to Score on Bet365