Lazio 3-1 Inter Milan: Luis Alberto screamer helps send hosts top of Serie A and ends visitors' perfect start

A wonder goal from Luis Alberto helped Lazio to a 3-1 victory in a close-fought Serie A encounter at the Stadio Olimpico. The first half was slow and lethargic, but the second had greater impetus from both sides as they fought it out for an important three points early in their domestic campaigns.

Inter's perfect start to the league season is over with yet another defeat in the capital for La Beneamata. Ad Felipe Anderson put the hosts ahead on 40 minutes — against the run of play — as he nodded a Sergej Milinkovic-Savic cross beyond the helpless Samir Handanovic, with the Brazilian ghosting in behind the visiting defence after the home side's initial attacking phase seemed to have slowed.

Serie AMartinez on target as Inter notch second consecutive Serie A win20/08/2022 AT 17:57 However, Simone Inzaghi's visitors re-emerged from the interval revitalised, Lautaro Martinez stealing in ahead of home goalkeeper Ivan Provedel to equalise after some questionable Lazio defensive communication. Ciro Immobile was denied by a smart stop from Handanovic at the Slovenian's near post, while Romelu Lukaku was quiet throughout, being replaced with 20 minutes to go by Edin Dzeko.

It seemed that neither sides' substitutes could come up with the goods to break the stalemate, until Alberto, sent on by Maurizio Sarri to create things in place of the more defensive-minded Matias Vecino, came up with an absolute howitzer — set up by Pedro — to win the game for Le Aquile. Inter pressed for another equaliser as Dzeko nodded over under pressure from goalscorer Anderson after a Hakan Calhanoglu cross-shot took a wicked deflection.