Internazionale were pegged back to a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday as both sides were reduced to 10 men.
In a first half of few chances, Lautaro Martinez gave Antonio Conte’s side the lead on half hour with his low finish squeezing beneath Thomas Strakosha.
These two sides had the best defensive records in Serie A last term and didn’t give each other much room in front of goal in the first half. However, Romelu Lukaku spurned a decent chance shortly after half-time as he fired wide of the post from 18 yards after strike partner Martinez had played him in.
Inter were made to pay as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic beat Ivan Perisic at the back post to head home a cross from deep to make it 1-1. Conte’s side have now shipped six goals in their opening three games this season, though this is the first time they have dropped points.
It was Simone Inzaghi’s side who then got on top of the game, narrowly heading wide from a corner and forcing a decent save from Samir Handanovic shortly after. That was until last season’s European Golden Shoe winner, Ciro Immobile, was shown his marching orders 20 minutes from time for kicking Arturo Vidal whilst lying on the ground.
The Lazio striker will now have to wait a decision from the Italian FA as to whether he receives any further punishment to the automatic two-match ban for a straight red card.
Inter failed to capitalise with the man advantage, with Marcelo Brozovic’s deflected effort rolling against the foot of the post late on, the only effort of note.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men themselves in the final five minutes as substitute Stefano Sensi received a second yellow for his shove on Patric, who reacted by falling to the ground, holding his face.
In all, Inter won’t have many more difficult games than a trip to Lazio this season but the three points were certainly on offer Sunday afternoon and a failure to keep a clean sheet once again ultimately cost them.
Antonio Conte has been busy in the current transfer window and his side will need more than three games to gel. With many of his players now jetting off across the globe for international duty he’ll have little time to work with them ahead of the Milan derby on Saturday 17 October with AC Milan the current Serie A leaders with three wins from three.
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