Luis Alberto stole the show as Lazio claimed an emphatic 3-1 win over former boss Simone Inzaghi and his Inter side in Serie A Matchday 3 on Friday evening. The Spaniard scored a gorgeous second for Lazio, thumping in from outside the box before compatriot Pedro grabbed their third and made sure of the points.
Inter had travelled to the capital to face Lazio as one of three teams – alongside Napoli and AS Roma – with maximum points from their opening two games of the 2022/23 Serie A season, but their perfect and unbeaten start ended in the Eternal City.
Things started rather lively at the Stadio Olimpico and Maurizio Sarri’s side looked good early on, but Inter did then grow into the game somewhat. The Nerazzurri were, though, thankful for Milan Skriniar’s presence at the back as he kept the hosts at bay almost single-handedly, although Stefan de Vrij and Federico Dimarco enjoyed decent performances themselves, particularly in the first half.
Felipe Anderson scores against Inter again
The scoreline of Lazio winning 3-1 likely had Inter fans feeling a bit of deja vu after the final whistle, and they’d have had a warning of what was to come when Felipe Anderson opened the scoring shortly before half time. When the Biancocelesti beat the Nerazzurri 3-1 in October 2021, it was the Brazilian who put them ahead in the 81st minute having gone a goal ahead to an early Ivan Perisic penalty.
Lautaro Martinez was able to level on Friday though, prodding in a loose ball from close range after a cross had been knocked in the general direction of the goal and he managed to stay onside and beat Ivan Provedel to it.
Luis Alberto stunner sees Lazio past Inter
The moment of the match came in the 75th minute though, with Luis Alberto again reminding Maurizio Sarri and everybody at Lazio just how good he can be. Having changed the game with his introduction against Bologna, the Spaniard thumped an outrageous strike into the top corner from outside the box, somehow having the technique to send his shot, on the bounce, swirling into Samir Handanovic’s goal before he had time to realise it had even been hit.
Pedro, who claimed the assist for Luis Alberto’s goal, put daylight between the sides with a fine third for Lazio. Gathering the ball after Ciro Immobile had gone to ground in the box, he whipped a perfect shot across goal and into the corner, meaning he had a productive 30-minute appearance.
