Klose and Candreva send Inter writhing home

Dag Jenkins
May 1, 2024
4 min read

Season 2015-16

Game 36, Serie A

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio -Inter 2-0

An early goal by the German and a late penalty by the Italian completes Lazio's double on the "Biscione".

Lazio had won the first game 2-1 at home to Bologna but then been thrashed by Chievo 0-4 and had never found much consistency. In early April after a 1-4 derby defeat manager Stefano Pioli was sacked and in came Simone Inzaghi. Lazio were then 8th on 42 points (W 11, D 9, L 11). Since then the Biancocelesti had won 2 and lost 2. Lazio were currently joint 8th with Chievo on 48 points.

Inter had started the season well and in early January were top of the table but had then faded (6 defeats in last 17 games).

An unpredictable game today. Neither team had much to play for, Inter were already qualified for the Europa League and Lazio were in limbo. Inter were 13 points ahead but Lazio had already beaten them away and today had the home crowd behind them.

The match

A crowd of only 20,000 turned up for this evening's game, a result of the May 1 holiday but also of the two clubs' lack of objectives.

Lazio were without defenders Stefan de Vrij and Stefan Radu, midfielder Marco Parolo plus forwards Filip Djordjevic and Alessandro Matri. Inter were missing midfielders Felipe Melo and Adem Ljajić.

Lazio seemed the more determined and energetic of the two to start.

In the 8th minute the Biancocelesti took the lead. A Senad Lulic-Miroslav Klose one-two at the edge of the box sent the German striker charging towards Samir Handanovic, the "Fisher King" waited until the last moment and then cleverly scooped the ball over the Slovenian and into the net. Lazio 1 Inter 0.

Inter's reaction was with a Stevan Jovetic close range effort when he latched onto a Geoffrey Kondogbia chip into the area but his shot was central and Federico Marchetti saved low with his feet.

Antonio Candreva then tried his luck with a cracking shot from 25 metres out but Handanovic tipped it over the bar. Then it was Keita Balde who caused havoc inside the area on the left but his left foot was parried by Handanovic.

Halftime came with Lazio deservedly in front, 1-0.

Inter looked more interested in the second half and attacked more. The first shot however was by Lazio when Candreva fired a low freekick from the right but it went a couple of metres off target.

Inter had chances with Ivan Perisic who pulled a left foot wide, a Mario Icardi header from a corner with Jovetic lunging in on the far post trying to get a touch, Perisic but his left footed effort become more of a cross than a shot and again the Croat but Marchetti punched away his curling but too central freekick.

Meanwhile both sides had made changes. Inter had replaced midfielder Gary Medel with more attacking Jonathan Biabiany in the 55th minute, forward Éder for Jovetić in the 72nd and Rodrigo Palacio for defender Yūto Nagatomo in the 79th. Lazio had taken off goal scorer Klose for Stefano Mauri in the 72nd.

In the 80th minute Jeison Murillo got his first booking for a foul on Mauri and three minutes later he was off. In the 83rd minute he tripped Keita in the area giving away a penalty and getting his marching orders at the same time.

Antonio Candreva put away the spot kick with a perfect execution. He blasted a shot into the top left-hand corner which would not have given any keeper in the world a chance. Lazio 2 Inter 0.

With Lazio two nil up and Inter a man down the game was over. There was only time for two more substitutions for Lazio: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic for Candreva in the 88th minute and Danilo Cataldi for Lucas Biglia in the 92nd.

A good win for Lazio. A bit too little too late but it was always satisfying beating one of the so-called "Big Three". Lazio had now done the "double" on the Nerazzurri this season. The Biancocelesti were now solitary 8th on 51 points, 2 above Chievo (0-0 at home to Fiorentina) and 3 behind Milan (3-3 at home to Frosinone).

Inter had tried harder and improved in the second half but it was not enough as they fell to their 10th defeat of the season. They were still 4th on 64 points, 4 ahead of Fiorentina in 5th.

Who played for Lazio

Marchetti, Basta, Bisevac, Gentiletti, Konko, Onazi, Biglia (92' Cataldi), Lulic, Candreva (88' Milinkovic-Savic), Klose (72' Mauri), Keita