AAP Soccer

Inter stun Lazio to keep Serie A title defence on track

By AAP Newswire

Dec 17, 2024

Federico Dimarco. — Defending champions Inter Milan have thumped fellow Serie A title hopefuls Lazio 6-0 in Rome. -AP

Inter Milan have scored four times in a 12-minute spell either side of halftime and added another couple late on to rout Lazio 6-0 in a lopsided contest of Serie A title contenders.

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Lazio were unbeaten at home in the league and matched Inter for most of the first half in front of their own fans at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday night.

However, four minutes from halftime Hakan Calhanoglu put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot and Federico Dimarco doubled the lead seconds before the break when he volleyed home a cross from Denzel Dumfries.

Lazio started the game without regular defender Alessio Romagnoli and Samuel Gigot replaced centre half Matias Gila midway through the first half.

When Gigot was forced off at halftime coach Marco Baroni had to reshuffle his back four again, but the lack of experienced heads in the centre of defence was evident from the restart.

Nicolo Barella made it 3-0 six minutes into the second half with a sumptuous 30-metre volley and Dumfries rose above everyone to head home the fourth two minutes later.

Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries was one of six different goalscorers for Inter at Lazio. (AP PHOTO)

Carlos Augusto showed some nice footwork in the box to make it 5-0 in the 77th minute and Marcus Thuram got his 11th goal of the season in the final minute to heap on the misery for the home side.

The result meant Inter (34 points) are alone in third place, three points behind leaders Atalanta and one behind Napoli with a game in hand.

Lazio (31) remain fifth.