Inter Milan hosted Lazio looking to keep their slender hopes of qualifying for next season's Europa League alive.
Instead, Lazio moved five points ahead of their hosts with a 3-1 win that all-but eliminated any chance Inter had of finishing in the top six.
The visitors went ahead when Samir Handanovic punched a cross into Sergio Floccari and the ball bobbled into the net.
Inter levelled through a booming header from Ricardo Alvarez, but a Hernanes penalty on the stroke of half time put Lazio 2-1 up.
In the second half Alvarez missed from the spot and Lazio wrapped up the points courtesy of a 30-yard wonder strike from Ogenyi Onazi.
Read how the action unfolded with our live text commentary.
Good evening all and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of Inter vs. Lazio in Serie A.
Without further ado, I'll fire over the team news which has reached us here.
TEAM NEWS: There is good new for Inter fans, with Esteban Cambiasso and Tommaso Rocchi both being named in the lineup - the latter is facing his old club.
INTER XI: Handanovic; Jonathan, Ranocchia, Juan Jesus, Pereira; Kuzmanovic, Kovacic, Cambiasso; Guarin; Alvarez, Rocchi
LAZIO XI: Marchetti; Konko, Dias, Radu, Lulic; Candreva, Ledesma, Hernanes, Lulic; Floccari, Klose
So Rodrigo Palacio, Diego Milito and Antonio Cassano are all still injured for Inter, but the appearance of Cambiasso will be a huge boost. They have missed the Argentine since he has been out and he still has the ability to pull the strings from the middle.
For Lazio, unsurprisingly Miroslav Klose retains his place up front following his staggeringly good showing against Bologna. He got five goals on the night and today is joined by Sergio Floccari.
Looking at the team you have to say that they are rather evenly matched. Inter will know that a win puts them a point above Lazio, while the visitors can open up five points on their hosts with victory. They both stand a chance of Europa League qualification - which is sixth currently, but could even be fifth depending on the winner of the Coppa Italia.
Another big reason that Inter don't want to lose is that just one more league defeat will bring up their worst-ever season in terms of losses. They are currently on 14 but have never lost 15 top-flight games in a season.
Interestingly, both sides are in the bottom six in terms of form since the turn of the year. It could be tough Europa League campaigns combined with an injury-ravaged squad (in Inter's case) or a thin squad (Lazio), but it remains that neither team has been anywhere near good enough over the past four months.
Not long left until kickoff, so I suppose I should make a prediction. This is really tough as, for me, Inter should win, but their record combined with Lazio's win last time make me think the Romans will take it 2-1.
There's a slight delay to kickoff, but the players are out shaking hands and getting on with the pre-match preparations.
There is a minute's silence for Giulio Andreotti, who passed away today, which is being observed by boos.. I'm not sure from the home or away fans. Probably both, in truth.
KICKOFF: Inter get us underway. Can the under-pressure Andrea Stramaccioni get a big win to ease the weight on him?
A bright start from Lazio, as Lulic looks early for Candreva who had broken from midfield, but Handanovic was out swiftly to gather.
Now Inter manage to settle after the bright start from their visitors. However, Lazio win it back and Klose is fouled allowing them to come forward again. This time, however, Pereira is brought down and the chance has gone.
Marchetti steams out of his box to head away a lofted pass. He clashes with Dias and tumbles to the floor - that looks nasty, and he needs treatment. Dias is down, too.
Play starts again and Floccari is immediately flagged offside. Both sides are playing quite direct. Lulic catches out Jonathan down the left and cuts to Klose, but his effort is blocked over. Good chance.
SAVE! Fantastic from Kovacic, who carries the ball from midfield to the edge of the box, before laying right to Rocchi. He tests Marchetti, but the ball is tipped over.
Now Inter are enjoying a good spell of possession. Alvarez finds Guarin, who goes right to Jonathan. His cross bounces around the box and eventually comes back to him, but he slices his shot high and wide going for the top corner.
Lazio are looking for the deep cross, but have yet to find their range at the moment. Ledesma's is cut out before Guarin is fouled to end the Lazio pressure.
The visitors have just about regained control of this one. Ledesma puts in a fantastic half-volleyed cross but again it's an Inter head meeting it - this time Ranocchia.
It's a tactical battle thus far and neither Stramaccioni nor Vladimir Petkovic are winning it. The sides are set up very similarly, with overlapping full-backs, but for now there remains just the Rocchi chance.
Jonathan again gets into space down the right, and from his cross Inter win a corner. However, another set piece is off target and Inter eventually go all the way back to Handanovic. They are allowed to pass it among the defence, but as soon as they venture into the Lazio half they're being hounded by white shirts.
GOAL! Inter 0-1 Lazio (Floccari)
I can't tell who that's gone to, but I think it's Floccari. Ledesma crossed from the right and Handanovic made a right hash of it, punching into the face of Floccari and in!
CHANCE! It should be 2-0! Candreva is through and finds himself one-on-one with Handanovic, but instead of finding the net he drags his shot wide. A huge miss and it might have been all-but over already.
Now Inter come forward looking for a response. Guarin swings in a free kick but this time Lazio defend it well and Dias is fouled by Rocchi to end the move.
Lovely move from Lazio as Floccari backheels to Klose, who plays in Cana down the left, but unfortunately for the visitors the cross towards Floccari is cut out. Jonathan went down at the start of the move and looks hurt.
INTER SUB: Jonathan is off on the stretcher and he can't continue. Marco Benassi is on.
Lazio can now sit back and play on the break, which is their real strength. They work the ball wide to Candreva, who cuts in and shoots but Handanovic manages to parry away the effort. The rebound falls to Klose, but that one is blocked. At the other end Inter try to break but Ledesma is booked for pulling back Kuzmanovic.
GOAL! Inter 1-1 Lazio (Ricky Alvarez)
I think that type of header is known in the business as 'booming'. Alvarez meets a cross from the middle of the box and thumps it in off the underside of the bar. Absolutely no chance for Marchetti.
SAVE! Inter suddenly seem full of life. Guarin combines with Cambiasso on the edge of the box and the latter fires a right-footed effort towards goal but cannot believe it as Marchetti gets across to tip on to the post. Absolutely incredible stop!
Radu defends well from Guarin, who was trying to weave his way into the box on the right. The defender cleared for a corner, which itself was cleared and Lazio survive.
MISS! Alvarez's turn to miss a sitter! Inter break down the left as Guarin cuts back to Rocchi, who dummies to Cambiasso and his shot is well saved. The rebound falls kindly to Alvarez who somehow turns it over from about eight yards! It ight have been given as a corner, but I don't think so.
Inter are finishing the half as the stronger side, as Hernanes brings down Kovacic who had done him for pace. A late free kick then from about 45 yards out.
Three minutes of time added on have been indicated. Can either side take the lead before the break?
CHANCE! Last-ditch stuff from Lazio at the back! Guarin is found by Cambiasso and bursts down the right, but his cross is cleared by one of three Lazio bodies after bouncing towards goal.
PENALTY TO LAZIO!
GOAL! Inter 1-2 Lazio (Hernanes)
HALF-TIME: Inter 1-2 Lazio
And breathe. Well, I think the penalty has to go down as soft. Candreva crossed low towards Floccari and the striker went over in a heap from what he thought was contact from Ranocchia from behind. There didn't look to be a lot, but either way Hernanes stepped up to emphatically fire in the penalty. Lazio lead at the break.
It's been a really entertaining half after a slow opening 15-20 minutes. Aside from the goals, both sides have also missed glorious chances - Candreva placed one wide when through on goal with the score 1-0 and Alvarez squandered a rebound at 1-1, not long after his goal.
I wouldn't expect any changes just yet at half time. Stramaccioni's side might be losing, but they haven't played badly at all and the penalty decision can probably go down as harsh.
The players are back out and we're nearly good to go for the second half.
LAZIO SUB: As always, I was wrong about there being no changes. The visitors are bringing on Michael Ciani for Dias.
KICKOFF: Lazio get us back underway then. Will we see an equally good second half?
Early free kick for Lazio, but they try to work it down the left and Inter win it back. However, they cannot get anywhere and work it back to Handanovic.
It's been a pretty quiet start to the half as the two sides again size each other up. Inter have probably just started better - their passing is more crisp at the moment.
CLOSE! What a fine effort from Guarin! The midfielder cut in from the left and fired a curling effort just wide of MArchetti's post. A super hit as he got the power and the inswing, but it was a yard or two wide.
Still Inter are pressing as Lazio drop ever deeper. Guarin again gets a chance as he meets a Juan Jesus cross, but it ends up harmlessly wide.
INTER SUB: Ranocchia was injured trying to win that last cross as Simone Pasa is on in his place.
Marchetti is again called into action, but he should be expected to stop Kovacic's low drive from 35 yards which is straight at him. It was hit hard enough, but it was still exceptionally ambitious.
Inter counter from a Lazio attack. Kovacic swivels and finds his midfield partner Kuzmanovic. Rocchi is deemed offside from the through ball but replays show that, albeit close, he was onside. Inter then earn a corner, which is to be taken by Pereira.
Kuzmanovic joins Kovacic with a selfish effort from an angle about 30 yards from goal. As you might expect, it's gone very much wide. Then Kovacic drills in a left-wing cross but it goes right through everyone - what a delivery.
MISS! Oh dear Guarin! Alverez crosses from the right and Konko only heads into the path of Guarin, who brings it down before firing wide when well placed. Lazio replace Ledesma with Ogenyi Onazi.
Inter break at pace and they have four or five men in the attack, but Kovacic's cross is blocked. Lazio are looking nowhere near the standard of the first half at the moment.
They've seen a little more of the ball in the last few minutes, but are yet to create a chance in this half.
It's just died down in the last five or so minutes after quite a frantic start to the half. Both sides are committed, but neither can get past their opponents' defence at the moment.
Inter appeal for a penalty as Rocchi flicked a cross up on to the arm of Radu, but it would have been very harsh.
PENALTY TO INTER!
MISSED! Cana is caught out as Guarin cuts in and is brought down, but from the spot Alvarez John Terrys it over the bar! What a howler.
SAVE! At the other end Handanovic is called into action to push wide a ferocious drive from distance from Hernanes. That's a very good save indeed - it was hit very hard.
SAVE! Now Marchetti is tested again. Once more it's Guarin who lets fly with his trademark shot from range but the Lazio stopper is across to his right to push it away.
BOOKING: Juan Jesus is booked for tugging back Klose who was through on goal. He wasn't quite the last man as he had Pasa to his right, which just went in his favour.
GOAL! Inter 1-3 Lazio (Onazi)
Oh. My. Word. You will not see a better shot than that all week. Probably all month. Onazi gets control after Inter half-clear the free kick and thwacks it into the top corner from pushing 30 yards. Wow. With it, that's probably the game too.
Frustration on the Inter bench and in the stands, but really they only have themselves to blame. Alvarez more than anyone else, I suppose, for his two misses, but apart from Guarin not many of the Inter players have been good enough. Inter make another change, with Kuzmanovic making way for Luca Garritano.
Inter seem bereft of ideas now. They're playing a lot more direct but the passes just aren't finding the target, as Garritano punts one out of play.
BOOKING: Squeals from Candreva as Pereira brings him down - but it was just a tap from the arm across his stomach. No need for the wails. The Inter man is booked, however. There's surely not enough time left for the hosts to get back into this.
Alvarez races through from deep and drifts across to the left but his cross cannot find a blue shirt. Inter's abysmal run goes on - surely Stramaccioni won't be in charge next season?
It's Lazio looking the more dangerous as the game comes to an end. They are playing on the break and although not creating much are looking very solid at the back.
There will be four minutes of time to be added on. Enough for two goals, but I doubt there will be even one.
CHANCE! Late chance for Inter but once more Marchetti is on top. Rocchi has a chance from around the penalty spot - he shoots hard and low but really straight at the legs of Marchetti and it's cleared. He then keeps out a Guarin drive from inside the box - what a performance from the keeper.
FULL-TIME: Inter 1-3 Lazio
The whistle goes and it's a very good win for Lazio. They have deserved it, in truth, as their finishing has been far more clinical. Inter on another day might have reversed the scoreline, but as it is they surely slip out of European contention.
That's all from me tonight. Thanks for joining us and be sure to stick around for reaction to all tonight's football - and over the weekend. Goodbye!
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
