Inter Crush Lazio 3-0 and Other Results from Serie A Matchday 36
Reigning champions Inter confidently beat Lazio away 3-0 (goals: Martinez, Susic, Mkhitaryan). The hosts finished the match with ten men after Romagnoli's red card.
Main Event
On May 9, 2026, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, the Matchday 36 fixture of Italian Serie A saw Inter comfortably defeat Lazio 3-0 away. This match carried extra significance as it served as a dress rehearsal for the Coppa Italia final, where the same opponents will meet again on May 13. Despite having already secured their 21st league title early in the previous round, Cristian Chivu's side displayed a champion's mentality and top-level motivation, denying the Romans even a hint of a contest.
The deadlock was broken as early as the 6th minute: after a long pass from Bisseck, Marcus Thuram headed the ball down to Lautaro Martinez, and the Argentine captain fired a superb low spinning shot into the far left corner. Inter continued to control proceedings, and in the 39th minute, Petar Susic doubled the lead with a strike from the edge of the box — 2-0 at halftime. In the second half, Lazio tried to seize the initiative, but any hopes of a comeback were dashed in the 59th minute when defender Alessio Romagnoli, initially shown a yellow card for a foul on Bonny, was sent off after a VAR review for a dangerous straight-leg challenge. The final score was set in the 73rd minute by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who finished off a pass from the same Bonny: the Armenian midfielder fired under the crossbar, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
Details and Statistics
The game at the Olimpico was a clear demonstration of Inter's overwhelming superiority despite being the away side. Cristian Chivu's team, operating in a 3-5-2 formation, completely outplayed Maurizio Sarri's men in midfield. Inter's starting XI featured Martinez in goal, a back three of Bisseck — Acerbi — Bastoni, a midfield line of Diouf, Barella (replaced by Frattesi at halftime), Mkhitaryan, and Carlos Augusto, with Lautaro and Thuram up front. Lazio fielded Motta, Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini, Dele-Bashiru, Rovella, Basic, Cancellieri, Noslin, and Pedro, but they failed to create any real threat on Martinez's goal before the break.
A key statistical moment came in the 16th minute when Mario Gila, attempting to block a shot from Marcus Thuram, handled the ball inside his own penalty area. Referee Abisso did not award a penalty, deeming the arm to be in a natural position, but the incident sparked considerable debate among pundits. As for Romagnoli's 59th-minute red card, experts unanimously agreed it was fully justified: the defender lunged with a straight leg into an opponent, risking serious injury, and fortunately Bonny had not yet planted his foot on the turf, otherwise the consequences could have been severe.
With a substitution in the second half, Denzel Dumfries came on and actively contributed to the attack in the final stages. Lazio, meanwhile, were without key goalkeepers Provedel and Furlanetto, both out for the season, while captain Mattia Zaccagni was not included in the squad due to an injury sustained in training.
Context and Significance
With this victory, Inter reached 85 points and opened up a massive 15-point gap over second-placed Napoli. Along the way, the team has scored 85 goals in the current Serie A campaign, highlighting not only defensive solidity but also tremendous attacking firepower. Lazio, with 51 points, remain in 8th place and risk dropping further if Bologna and Udinese pick up points in their matches.
This match was particularly valuable from a psychological standpoint ahead of the decisive cup final. "This was the first act, and we showed we are the strongest team in Italy. We don't stop," — that roughly sums up the mindset of the Milanese side, who have not lost focus after securing the Scudetto. For Sarri, the defeat was a wake-up call: with one man fewer after Romagnoli's red card, his team had nothing to offer in positional defense in the second half.
What's Next / Preview of the Next Match
The Coppa Italia final between the same two sides will take place on May 13, again at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. This will be the fourth consecutive meeting between Inter and Lazio at this stadium; the previous two in Serie A ended with an aggregate score of 8-0 in favor of the Nerazzurri, putting immense pressure on the capital club. For Lazio, a pressing issue is who will replace the suspended Romagnoli in central defense for the final, and whether Zaccagni can recover. For Inter, the participation of Hakan Çalhanoğlu remains uncertain as he continues his recovery from injury.
For the Milanese, this trophy could be their second of the season and complete a domestic double, while Lazio will seek to redeem themselves after the humiliating defeat and win a coveted title in front of their home fans, while also securing a Europa League spot for next season.
— Editorial Team
