Are Inter Milan ready to challenge in Serie A again?
Published:
Nerrazuri showing signs of life in Italy
Many fans and experts tipped Inter to be Juventus’ closest challengers for the Scudetto this season.
Inter looked to have spent well on the likes of Radja Nainggolan, Stefan de Vrij and loans for Sime Vrsaljko and exciting forward Lautaro Martinez.
However, the beginning of the season saw the club pick up one win in their first four games. But they could now go joint-second with a win over Lazio tonight.
We investigate how Inter are starting to turn things around.
The new ownership
After the jubilation of the ‘against-all-odds’ Champions League win in 2010, the last few years have been humbling for Nerrazuri.
Between 2011-12 and 2016-17 they finished inside Serie A’s top-four just once.
The new Chinese owners Suning Group oversaw a tumultuous campaign in 2016-17. Three managers came and went before Luciano Spalleti steadied the ship last season.
The consortium fronted by Jindong Zhang are now ready to bankroll the club’s charge back into the title picture.
Unbeaten run
The uncertain start has now turned into an exciting one. A five-match winning streaked piqued interest and the Milan derby win was the icing on the cake.
But they are not done rising just yet.
Inter face three of the bottom half in their next five games, so by the time they face Roma and Juventus away in early December we will begin to find out just how potent Il Biscione are.
But first, a Monday night grudge match against Lazio. This fixture has never been the fiercest of rivalries but that all changed last season.
Renew a rivalry
The final Champions League place was up for grabs in the last day of the season. Lazio went into the game knowing a point would be enough.
Inter simply had to win. As a subplot Lazio’s star defender Stefan de Vrij would be joining Spalleti’s men in the summer.
Inter won 3-2, with de Vrij conceding a penalty in the final 10 minutes.
This year Inter are a point above Lazio in third. But Le Aquile have six-goal striker Ciro Immobile in flying form.
Lazio will be buoyed by the absence of Inter’s Nainggolan and go into the game at 7/5 to win.
Martinez could come into the Inter side. It’s 12/1 for him to score and Inter to win. A draw is 12/5.
Both Teams to score is at 4/6. Immobile is 7/5 to notch anytime.
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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
