Soccer Football - Serie A - Lazio v Inter Milan - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - December 16, 2024 Inter Milan's Hakan Calhanoglu scores their first goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Alberto Lingria
ROME (Reuters) -Defending champions Inter Milan stormed to a 6-0 win at Lazio in Serie A on Monday as they scored quick-fire goals either side of halftime in a superb display that silenced the Stadio Olimpico.
Inter delivered a masterclass to overwhelm Lazio, with Hakan Calhanoglu breaking the deadlock with a 41st-minute penalty and Federico Dimarco making it 2-0 at the break with a volley.
Nicolo Barella slotted home for 3-0 six minutes after the restart before Denzel Dumfries netted two minutes later and Carlos Augusto and Marcus Thuram completed the rout late on.
Inter remain third with 34 points from 15 matches and trail leaders Atalanta by three points with a game in hand. Lazio, who beat second-placed Napoli last time out, suffered a second league loss in three games and sit fifth on 31 from 16 matches.
Lazio were the best side in the opening 30 minutes although Inter defender Stefan de Vrij thought he had opened the scoring after a rebound only to see his effort ruled out for offside.
However, Inter were awarded a penalty minutes later after a lengthy VAR review showed defender Samuel Gigot stopped the ball with his arm from Dumfries initial attempt in the same move.
Calhanoglu converted to give the visitors the lead and Inter grew in confidence, with Dimarco firing inside the far post to quickly double their advantage.
Lazio, who are top of the Europa League table, continued to look shell-shocked after the break and Barella increased Inter's lead with a powerful shot that went just under the bar, leaving Lazio keeper Ivan Provedel with no chance.
Inter, who on Tuesday suffered a last-gasp 1-0 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, were soon 4-0 up through Dumfries, who netted with a towering header from a delightful cross by Alessandro Bastoni.
Substitute Carlos Augusto then scored from close range after 77 minutes shortly before Thuram dribbled past two defenders to add a sixth goal in the 90th.
Inter now have 47 goals on the road in Serie A in 2024, a club record for away goals in a calendar year in the top flight.
(Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk; Editing by Ken Ferris)
