‘Lazio to be considered in Scudetto race’ for 2024-25 win

epa11699763 Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi looks on before the Italian Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Venezia FC at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, November 3, 2024. EPA-EFE/NICOLA MARFISI

Inter coach Simone Inzaghi admits his former club ‘can never be the same’ games, especially now he feels Lazio ‘should be considered’ in the Scudetto race.

It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday at 19:45 GMT.

This is shaping up to be a real title fight with both teams’ current form as Marco Baroni has revitalized Aquile in Serie A, the Coppa Italia – where they knocked out Napoli last week – and the Europa League.

“It will be a complicated game as we are up against a team that has won 16 of its 22 competitive games this season and when they didn’t win they still played really well.” Inzaghi told the official Inter website.

“We have to give credit to everyone, the club, the coach and the players. Baroni is doing great things, the team is organized and they are playing really good football. It is only right that everyone recognizes how well they are doing.”

Inter suffered their first Champions League defeat in midweek by conceding a last-minute goal against Bayer Leverkusen, where the team rotation was perhaps taken too far.

“We know these international games really sap your energy, you just have to look at the results at the weekend around the leagues, but it’s something Inter, Lazio and all the clubs involved have to deal with,” added Inzaghi .

Inzaghi sees Lazio-Inter as a title match

Atalanta are top of the table with Napoli second, so Inter and Lazio both need a positive result to keep up with the leading pack.

“At the start of the season I said it would be a very balanced campaign. In my opinion, it is only right that we consider Lazio in the Scudetto race. Apart from their current position, I am impressed by their style of play, their organization , and that places them among the contenders for victory.”

Inzaghi spent most of his career at Lazio, first as a striker and then as a coach, winning the Coppa Italia and two editions of the Supercoppa Italiana.

– Meeting Lazio can never be the same as other matches for me. I think it might be the eighth time I meet them, the fourth at the Stadio Olimpico. I will not forget the journey I have had, the trophies I won first as a player and then on the bench.

“I thank all my former teammates and players, I think of president Claudio Lotito, director Igli Tare, all those I worked with. I have been lucky to coach first Lazio and today Inter, a club where I am very happy, feel valued and proud of what we do.”