Inter - Lazio story, comebacks and high - scoring affairs

MILAN – It’s now time for Inter vs. Lazio, historically a spectacular showdown. The Meazza has played host to some fantastic Nerazzurri fightbacks against the Biancocelesti in the past. With Wednesday’s game on the horizon (kick-off is at 21:00 CEST at San Siro, click here for ticket information), it’s the perfect opportunity to look back at Inter’s greatest comebacks against Lazio.

20 years ago, the Nerazzurri produced a brilliant comeback. Trailing 2-1 from the first leg in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia, Lucescu’s side stormed back to win the return fixture 5-2 at San Siro. After the guests took the lead through Vieri – a future Inter striker – Inter turned the game around with goals from Cauet and Djorkaeff. Another setback followed as Lombardo struck for Lazio to make it 2-2. In the second half, Djorkaeff bagged another and Zé Elias and Moriero also got on the scoresheet to seal a ‘double’ fightback.

In 2007, Inter managed to emerge victorious despite going two behind after just five minutes. It seemed that the Nerazzurri had regained control of the match after Hernan Crespo’s brace, but Ledesma’s goal at the end of the first half left the team with an uphill battle. Inter, already the Italian Champions, were going to have to show what they were made of once again. And they did just this: Crespo scored again to complete his hat-trick before Materazzi headed home the fourth and decisive goal. The Nerazzurri ran out 4-3 winners.

Between 2011 and 2014, there were three Inter vs. Lazio games where the Nerazzurri showed great strength and mentality. On 23 April 2011, Lazio broke the deadlock after 24 minutes through Zarate’s penalty after Julio Cesar had been sent off.  Wesley Sneijder got Inter back into the game with a free kick from the edge of the box that proved too good for Lazio goalkeeper Muslera. Despite being a man down and under pressure from Lazio, Samuel Eto’o bagged a winner for the Nerazzurri. The season after, the game played out in the same way: Lazio went ahead through Rocchi before Inter struck through Milito and Pazzini, the latter of whom scored with a lovely lobbed finish from just outside the area.

10 May 2014 has gone down in history for being the date when Javier Zanetti played the final game of his career. He said goodbye with a victory: Biava gave the Biancocelesti the lead after just two minutes, but Inter hit back through Palacio’s double, Icardi’s finish and Hernanes’s left-footed strike from outside the box. Stories, victories and Inter comebacks.