Lazio and Inter Milan in dramatic, virtual play-off clash for Champions League spot
>> MILAN: Lazio and Inter Milan will be involved in a dramatic clash for Italy’s final Champions League group spot when they meet in a match worth millions of euros tomorrow.
Lazio currently occupy the fourth and final Italian place in next season’s group stage while Inter are three points behind them in fifth with the fixture list having thrown the pair together on the final day of the season for what is effectively a play-off.
Inter are desperate to end a six-season absence from Europe’s showcase competition which they won in 2010 under Jose Mourinho. Their last participation was in 2011-12 when they lost to Olympique de Marseille on away goals in the round of 16.
Inter and Lazio drew 0-0 in their first meeting of the season, meaning that if Inter win tomorrow, they will sneak above Lazio on their head-tohead record.
Any other result will send Lazio straight into the group stage where they can expect to amass a minimum payment of over €12 million plus considerably more from the distribution of television and marketing revenue.
Lazio could have clinched their place last week, but were held to a 2-2 draw at relegation-threatened Crotone despite taking an early lead.
“It’s a big missed opportunity,” said midfielder Senad Lulic. “We deserve the Champions League, it would be a shame to throw it all away now.”
The Champions League was the very minimum Luciano Spalletti expected when he became Inter’s 10th coach in seven years since Mourinho before the start of the season.
Inter led the Serie A table in December, but have been exasperatingly inconsistent since then.
A shock 2-1 defeat at home to Sassuolo last Saturday, which Spalletti said left his players distraught, appeared to have ended their chances but they were let off the hook by Lazio’s result at Crotone the following day.
Juventus have already wrapped up a seventh successive title while Napoli and AS Roma have taken the other two Champions League places.
Italy great Gianluigi Buffon will take his final bow in goal for Juventus today at the end of a 17-year stint with the Serie A champions.
The 40-year-old’s 640th Serie A game will be against Verona in the Allianz Stadium before he steps aside to consider the next move in his already storied career.