Will Inter win the double?
Will Christian Chivu win the double in his first full season with Inter Milan? This question will be answered on Wednesday evening at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome during the Italian Cup final. The “Nerazzurri” already clinched the league title two weeks ago, and now the Coppa must follow. The odds are indeed very good, as Lautaro Martinez and Co. are clear favorites heading into the final between Lazio Rome and Inter Milan.
But that’s hardly a surprise, especially since last weekend, when both teams faced off at the same venue in a dress rehearsal. Last year’s Champions League finalist cruised to a 3-0 victory over an overwhelmed Lazio side, showcasing extreme focus and stability.
Nevertheless, Wednesday’s Lazio Rome vs. Inter Milan prediction must, of course, take into account that this is a completely different competition, that the cup is known to have its own rules, and that coach Maurizio Sarri’s team also enjoys home-field advantage. However, the Eagles from the capital have struggled at the Stadio Olimpico throughout the entire season.
Due to disappointing performances and as a boycott against the club’s leadership, at times fewer than 10,000 spectators attended the “Biancocelesti’s” home games. Almost inevitably, the capital club won only seven of 18 matches at their own stadium, including just three of the last twelve in league play.
Since tickets are now distributed fairly in the cup anyway, the home-field advantage (in terms of spectators) therefore, in my opinion, actually leans more toward Lombardy. This is certainly one reason why the odds for Lazio Rome vs. Inter Milan are so low for a victory by the champions.
That said, the Black-and-Blues are naturally and quite rightly the favorites, having been virtually unstoppable at the national level in recent weeks. Chivu’s team has won six of its last seven competitive matches. The offense, in particular, has shown flashes of brilliance. They’ve scored at least two goals in seven consecutive matches, and in five of those, three or more. This was also the case in the thrilling and emotionally charged semifinal against Como, which Inter turned around late after trailing 0-2 to win 3-2.
Lazio Rome has already gone to a penalty shootout twice, but managed to eliminate notable clubs like Atalanta Bergamo, Bologna, and AC Milan. Overall, the Sky Blues have a great opportunity to salvage what has ultimately been a very weak league season in 90 minutes (plus extra time) and cap it off with a Europa League qualification.
It is safe to assume that the Laziali will seize this chance with both hands and take the field with maximum focus (and a deep defensive setup). In addition to betting on Chivu’s team, it is therefore an option to take advantage of the betting odds for more goals in the second half ahead of the Coppa Italia final between Lazio Rome and Inter Milan.
Lazio Rome – Inter Milan Head-to-Head / H2H Record
Rarely have impressions from a direct matchup been fresher than before this cup final. The clubs faced off in the league just last Saturday. Inter Milan won 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico thanks to a remarkable first half. However, the significance of that match must be put into perspective, as neither team had anything left to play for and this final was surely already on their minds. Nevertheless, the historical H2H record also clearly tips the scales in Inter Milan’s favor. In nine consecutive competitive matches, the “Nerazzurri” have remained unbeaten against Lazio. They even won seven of those nine encounters.
Lazio Rome – Inter Milan Prediction
In the Champions League, Inter Milan disappointed across the board. Domestically, however, the Black and Blues are undoubtedly the standard-bearers. After reclaiming the Scudetto, the double is now within reach. Just 90 minutes separate Chivu’s squad from maximum success in Italy. Their opponent on Wednesday evening is Lazio Rome, who have only a cup victory left to secure a spot in next season’s international competitions. Throughout the entire season, however, there has been a clear class difference compared to Inter. This was also the case on Saturday, when the Milan side won 3-0 against the same opponent at Rome’s Olympic Stadium.
Despite the final atmosphere and the pressure that isn’t captured in the statistics, I am convinced that when it comes to Lazio Rome and Inter Milan, the favorite will come out on top.
