Inter 2 Lazio 0
Inter are the title favourites in Italy. For me Inter are the best and most consistent team in Italy, I think this match proved the strength of Inter’s squad as well bringing on Marcus Thuram, Augusto, Zielinski, Frattesi and Pio Esposito proving the depth of Inter’s squad this year. Having won the league two seasons ago under Simone Inzaghi the vast majority of this team knows what it takes to win the league and it will be interesting to see whether Chivu can bring the scudetto back to Inter.
Lautaro Martinez doesn’t get enough credit. I think it’s safe to say that if you watch Serie A regularly enough you know how good Lautaro Martinez is and his importance to this Inter team as captain, this is shown even further by the first goal, to hit that volley on the outside of the boot curling away from the keeper who doesn’t even move is evidence enough of the quality he possesses. For me he doesn’t get enough credit in mainstream football talk even after scoring the winner in the Copa America final last year for Argentina.
Inter’s frontline has gone up a level this year. The major talking point over the summer for Inter is finding deputy to Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram, last season their replacements where Mehdi Taremi and Joaquin Correa who to put it lightly weren’t good enough and cost Inter multiple games last year in the Champions League and the Serie A. However this has turned around completely thanks to Ange-Yoan Bonny and Francesco Pio Esposito who have deputised brilliantly for Inter when Martinez and Thuram have been missing so far this season, Bonny in particular has been a brilliant signing from Parma scoring again in this game from an excellent cross from DiMarco
Chivu is proving his worth to Inter. Over the summer there were plenty of question marks over the appointment of Cristian Chivu having only managed Parma last season and going out in the Club World Cup to Fluminense over the summer but he’s managed to steady the ship at Inter maintaining Inzaghi’s 352 formation which has beared fruits at Inter over the years leading to 2 Champions League finals and a league title. It will be interesting to see if Chivu will evolve the system over the year or try to keep Inzaghi’s philosophy over the season.
Is there trouble brewing at Lazio? It might be too early but Lazio have struggled during the early part of the season especially scoring goals, they’ve scored 3 goals in their last 5 games with striker Boulaye Dia only having scored 1 goal in 11 games this season, how long can they rely on Zaccagni to pull them out of danger year after year. Defensively they look solid but if they want European football again this year they are going to have to find goals from somewhere.