Category: News

ROME – “Lazio were
the better team in the first 45 minutes, they made it tough for us and
we couldn’t find a way through them. But Inter turned in a superb
second-half display and we deserved to go ahead, we just didn’t get
the luck on certain episodes. Then Klose showed that he’s world-class –
hats off to him for the finish – but we didn’t deserve to lose.”
Andrea Stramaccioni rued his side’s defeat at the Olimpico after the
final whistle.

The coach continued: “We
came up a bit short in the first period, but after the half-time
reshuffle we came back out with a different approach.
Maybe we’re not good enough yet to overcome certain misfortune but that’s football for you. Should Ranocchia have had a penalty? As I said, we were unfortunate in certain episodes… like when
the referee blew for a foul on Biava by Milito.”

Stramaccioni concluded: “Lazio were excellent in the first half but I don’t
think I’ve seen a team come here to the Olimipico and cause them as
many problems as we did in the second half today. We might not have
deserved to win but we certainly didn’t deserve to lose.”

ROME – Klose pounced late on to bag the points for the hosts but Inter were unlucky to leave the Stadio Olimpico empty-handed after forging a glut of second-half chances.

The
first half was a tight affair with the two teams cancelling each
other out and opportunities few and far between. Inter came into the game
after the interval but fortune wasn’t on their side: Guarin
struck the foot of the post after 67 minutes and four minutes later
Cassano rattled the same patch of woodwork, Nagatomo’s follow-up
from the rebound then turned behind by Marchetti’s smart reflexes. The winning goal was scored by Klose eight minutes from time. Having wasted a gilt-edged opportunity he showed what a lethal finisher
he is at the second time of asking: Mauri picked out his run and the
German clipped a first-time effort past Handanovic. However, a minute before
the goal, the referee awarded a
dubious free kick to Lazio for a foul by Milito on Biava as
Inter were on the attack with a man over. In added time Ranocchia was held back and then tugged to the ground inside the box by Ciani.
Incredibly Mazzoleni chose not to award a spot kick, a decision which had the Nerazzurri bench understandably in uproar: it was a clear penalty.

Lazio 1-0 Inter (HT:
0-0)
Scorer: Klose 82.

Lazio:
22 Marchetti; 29 Konko, 20 Biava, 2 Ciani, 26 Radu; 19 Lulic
(Candreva 64), 8 Hernanes (Dias 87), 24 Ledesma, 15 Gonzalez, 6
Mauri; 11 Klose (Floccari 85).
Unused subs: 1
Bizzarri, 84 Carrizo, 21 Diakite, 5 Scaloni, 27 Cana, 87 Candreva, 23
Onazi, 32 Brocchi, 25 Rozzi.
Coach:
Petkovic.

Inter: 1 Handanovic; 55 Nagatomo,
23 Ranocchia, 25 Samuel, 31 Pereira (Coutinho 86); 4 Zanetti, 21
Gargano, 19 Cambiasso (Palacio 59); 14 Guarin; 22 Milito, 99
Cassano.
Unused subs: 12 Castellazzi, 27 Belec, 6
Silvestre, 28 Pasa, 33 Mbaye, 40 Juan Jesus, 42 Jonathan, 17 Mariga,
41 Duncan, 24 Benassi.
Coach:
Stramaccioni.

Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni (Bergamo).
Booked: Gargano 45, Samuel 52, Konko 66, Candreva 90.
Added time: 2+4 minutes.

ROME – As we await the kick-off of Lazio
v Inter this evening at 20:45 at the Stadio Olimpico, inter.it offers some statistics from Football Data.

Inter’s last away draw in the Serie A dates
back to last 22 April’s 0-0 finish at Fiorentina. In the following 11 away matches the Nerazzurri’s record is 7 victories
and 4 defeats. Inter are one of four clubs
in the 2012/13 Serie A season
that has yet to draw away from home: the other three teams
are Bologna, Chievo Verona and Roma.

Inter have received fewer bookings in the 2012/13 Serie A season than
any other team so far, with a total of 30.

The last draw in a competitive match between Inter and Lazio goes back to 16 April 2008 when it finished 0-0 in the Coppa Italia in
Milan: in the following 10 competitive games the record
is 3 wins for Lazio and 7 for Inter.

Lazio have lost only one of their last 17 competitive
home matches: the loss came last 23 September when they
were defeated 1-0 by Genoa in the Serie A. In the other 16 games Lazio’s home record is 12 wins
and 4 draws.

The overall record regarding matches held in Rome between Lazio and
Inter is 27 wins for Lazio, 30 draws
and 21 wins for Inter.

This will be the first ever match between Vladimir Petkovic and Andrea and Stramaccioni.
The Lazio coach will be facing Inter for
the first time, while the Nerazzurri coach will be facing Lazio for the second time in a competitive match after losing 1-3 at the
Stadio Olimpico last 13 May.

Refereeing will be Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni, of the Bergamo section. He has officiated a Lazio match 13 times (7 wins, 4 draws and 2 defeats for the Biancocelesti), and 6
times for Inter (4 wins and 2 draws for the Nerazzurri).

APPIANO GENTILE – During a press conference on the eve of Lazio v Inter, Andrea Stramaccioni also responded to questions on individual players, some of whom are available for tomorrow’s game and
others who are not.

“Chivu is working very hard. If he
looks good to me on Sunday and Monday I could call him up for the Coppa Italia. But
generally speaking, he must return only when he’s fit. Stankovic is making great strides and I’m hoping
to have him back after the break, but he has to return only when
the doctor and he himself feel
sure. This is an unlucky period for Alvarez;
yesterday at the end of training he had another small problem. Obi will return in the new year, just like Mudingayi. Guarin? I hope he’ll be able to contribute to the team once again.
Nagatomo has improved a lot since the beginning of the season and gives 100% in every training session. I believe he’s improved in the defensive phase
without the ball, in individual
tactics and in using his left foot.
He just needs to stay humble like he always is. I
believe Yuto, like Zanetti,
Pereira and Jonathan, all have the characteristics to be important players on the flanks in tomorrow’s
game. Of course we’ll try to give them help in midfield so they don’t suffer,
but Lazio will have to worry about them. Is it true that Sneijder asked to start his Christmas holiday early?
No, it’s not true.”

SANTA MARTA
– They’ve been celebrating in the Bastidas quarter in Santa Marta, Colombia, where a new Inter Campus centre opened a few days ago for two
trainers and 100 children. Joining them for the party were 740 Inter
Campus kids from Cali and the Cauca Valley region.

Oscar Ariza, president of Inter Campus’ partner association SyS, and Oscar Bolano, coordinator of the project in Santa
Maria, will liaise with Ricardo Martinez, who has been Inter Campus’
coordinator in Colombia since 1998.

As part of the opening of the new Inter Campus centre, inhabitants of the Bastidas Barrio received a visit from the city authorities, following our request for help in improving living conditions in the area as many locals currently have no electricity or basic facilities.