Lazio broke Inter's streak of good form by knocking them out of the Coppa Italia with a deserved 2-1 win. The Nerazzurri's bright start culminated in Geoffrey Kondogbia hitting the post but it was quickly undone by some slack defending from Cristian Ansaldi, who allowed Felipe Anderson to head the Eagles ahead on 29 minutes.
Stefano Pioli's men fell apart after that and were lucky not to concede more, with Anderson wasting a pair of one-on-ones and Marco Parolo somehow firing over from point-blank range. When they finally did double their lead, it was courtesy of a disastrous Joao Miranda lunge, one that earned him a red card. Lucas Biglia duly converted the penalty.
Finally stung into action, Inter got back into the game with a Marcelo Brozovic header six minutes from time, but their comeback amounted to too little, too late.
Positives
In some ways, Inter could expect a result like this. The team still has plenty of flaws to fix, flaws that some poor teams didn't exploit during the nine-game win streak. This included the 3-0 league win over Lazio in December, in which Anderson ran the back line ragged. It was also good to see the Nerazzurri finally get back on their feet, albeit deep into the second half. They almost got another crazy extra-time Cup marathon. The midfield also missed Roberto Gagliardini, evidence that he's been a very strong addition so far.
Negatives
Lazio could have had so many more goals. Ansaldi can't run a defensive diagonal to save his life, Ever Banega was invisible and Miranda has proved that this year's errors aren't all his teammates' fault. Lazio were hardly invincible heading into Tuesday's game and were missing Keita Balde, too. The defence took a big step back, while Rodrigo Palacio didn't contribute at all at the other end.
The Nerazzurri shut down after Anderson's goal and started the second half as badly as they ended the first. The delivery from set pieces needs to improve, and desperately so.
Manager rating out of 10
5 -- A Coppa defeat is hardly reason to lose one's composure but Pioli really should have rested some of these guys. Surely someone like Eder deserves a crack at this level rather than the tired-looking Candreva? And why was Ansaldi left alone with Anderson again?
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Samir Handanovic, 6 -- Kept the score respectable in the first half but was powerless to stop Lazio's two goals. Should really stop parrying the ball into danger zones.
DF, Danilo D'Ambrosio, 5 -- Did a decent job defensively, but didn't do anything right in attack. If this was playground football, you'd pick him last, stick him on the wing and never pass him the ball.
DF Joao Miranda, 4 -- All at sea today. Conceded a penalty, was sent off and nearly allowed Lazio a second before that, losing his man on a corner the visitors should have converted.
DF Jeison Murillo, 6 -- Wasn't as bad as Miranda, a punchline we haven't heard very often. Could have done better on Lazio's second goal but otherwise fought hard and came forward to try to turn the game around.
DF Cristian Ansaldi, 4 -- Is this how he makes up for being sent off against Palermo? Lost Anderson on the opener, was chasing shadows most of the time and never lent Ivan Perisic a hand. Deservedly hooked after Miranda went off.
MF Marcelo Brozovic, 7 -- Was messier than usual but it says a lot that the Croatian international turned it around in the second half. He's growing into a leader for this team, someone who can be trusted to start every game. His effort goes beyond the goal he scored to give Inter hope.
MF Geoffrey Kondogbia, 6 -- Started very strongly, hit the post and made his fair share of tackles. One gets the feeling that Gagliardini would cover those spaces better. Moves still grind to a halt once the ball reaches his feet, too.
MF Ever Banega, 4 -- Didn't even earn an average mark for some nifty passes. A ghost with tattoos.
MF Antonio Candreva, 5 -- Now goes into the Juventus game having not rested since the Bologna game... where he came on and netted the extra-time winner. Failed to make an impact but was tackled in the first half for what should have been a penalty.
FW Rodrigo Palacio, 5 -- Didn't leave his mark at all. Eder should have played.
FW Ivan Perisic, 7 -- His penchant for the dribble was maddening in the first half, but he thrives in high-volume Cup classics where he can run at tired defences. Assisted Brozovic for the goal and was often the only man capable of lighting a fuse.
Substitutes
MF Joao Mario, 6 -- Not a coincidence that the Nerazzurri looked better once he came on, but this was hardly a vintage performance from the Portuguese star, who never got into space in midfield.
FW Mauro Icardi, 5 -- Ineffectual and should have got on the end of a Perisic cross that was begging to be tapped in.
DF Gary Medel, 6 -- Did his job well enough, but defending was hardly the problem by the time he got on.