The 5 truths of Lazio-Inter 0-6: Nerazzurri at the top, Inzaghi can now change gear. Barons betrayed by Gigot

Below are the 5 truths that the postponement of the Olimpico has left us.

To stay up there, you have to know how to survive difficulties. Inter knows this well. And on the weekend in which Zaniolo gets Atalanta out of trouble in Cagliari and Napoli overturns Udinese after a terrible first half, the response from the Italian champions arrives promptly. Crushed for half an hour by Lazio, the Nerazzurri remained compact and at the first naivety of others – Gigot’s wide arm, as soon as he entered – they were ready and changed the history of this direct clash. And the crack soon becomes a chasm. In fact, just 18 minutes elapse between Calhanoglu’s penalty and Dumfries’ poker (excluding half-time). Because Inter, like the battleship they are, “smell the blood” and presses on the accelerator to prevent Lazio from reacting. And with immense quality he perfectly succeeds in his aim of securing the three points. Making Lazio, who were coming off two successes against Napoli and the 3-1 in Amsterdam, look like a mid-table team.

For the second time in this championship – the other date back to the 4-0 against Atalanta – Inzaghi’s Inter mauled a direct rival, acting like a cannibal. And the feeling is that this match, more than the previous one, could be the springboard for the assault on the 21st Scudetto. That the Italian champions are now ready for the lethal change of gear, for the string of victories that annihilates the competition. A year ago, more or less these days, the Nerazzurri feasted at Maradona (0-3) and then crushed Lazio at the Olimpico (0-2). Today they are already sure that they don’t have Juventus and Milan between their feet, and that they have to make a three-way race with Gasperini and Conte. To intimidate them, the Italian champions can take advantage of a very favorable calendar. On the horizon there are Como, Cagliari, Venice, Bologna, Empoli and Lecce. February will be a month of fire but Inter, having scored 18 points in these six matches, could approach it by looking at everyone from above.

After some impressive results, Baroni’s team took a lesson from Inzaghi’s by failing the second test of the final exam (Napoli was the first). The defeat suffered against Inter is in some ways reminiscent of the defeat against Juventus at the Stadium. Even there Lazio was condemned by a detail, Gila’s own goal at the end. This time it is Gigot’s foolishness that turns the evening, or even earlier Gila’s problem that causes Gigot to enter the pitch (who will only remain on the pitch for 25′). Details that make the difference between a mature team and one that has yet to become so. Up to that point the hosts had been perky. Driven by Zaccagni, Isaksen and Tavares, they showed great energy even when not in possession, preventing Inter from moving up the pitch. At the final whistle, however, the deficit is very heavy. Because after the first goal Lazio dissolved. Also thanks to a much-rearranged defensive structure without Romagnoli, Gila and Gigot and therefore with Patric as the only true central defender accompanied by a disoriented Marusic, already terrible as a full-back.

Calhanoglu, Dimarco, Barella, Dumfries, Carlos Augusto and Thuram. The Nerazzurri goal festival brings six different signatures. And in the 89th minute an attacker still had to score. Ladies and gentlemen, Inzaghi’s wonderful creation. Analyzing the various goals, then, we can see that none of these goals are the result of chance. The Nerazzurri against Lazio after the 0-1 draw play from memory, at supersonic speed, and all the choices with and without the ball seem codified and succeed perfectly. The three goals from the wingers are the result of exceptional schemes, and even Barella knows where to receive before striking Provedel and Calhanoglu finds him there. Thus, the Italian champions teach that even when the designated striker is not in his best period, you can still win and win big. Lautaro, out of action since November 3rd, is not taking part in the party. But it’s not fair to make a fuss about it: he participates in the maneuver, works well for the team and initiates two of the six goals.

They are not the only ones to have played a monstrous match, Barella was also superb with them. But I believe that Inzaghi’s wingers are the real protagonists of the goalscoring at the Olimpico. Let’s start from Dumfries. He had missed Leverkusen due to fever and the duel with Tavares could have been scary. And instead, after an overwhelming start from the Lazio player, the photograph of the evening is the Dutchman who rises to the sky, towers over him and pierces Provedel. But this is only the latest excellent technical gesture from the Nerazzurri 2. In fact, first he gets the penalty, then he provides the assist for Dimarco’s fabulous goal. “From fifth to fifth”, the goal that drives lovers of the 3-5-2 crazy the most. And right from fifth to fifth, we move on to Dimarco. There is an Inter with and one without him: watch the performance at the BayArena to believe it. To the magic against Parma, he adds this volley which makes it 0-2. And the left-handed agreement with Carlos Augusto generates the 0-5. In order to overwhelm Lazio, Inter conquered the lanes.