Eighth placed Internazionale entertain Lazio, who are one place ahead of them, at the San Siro on Wednesday evening.

A mere two points separate the two teams as they both desperately seek three points in order to remain in contention for Europa League qualification. A run of poor form in 2013 has seen both teams slip down the Serie A table.

Injuries have severely plagued Andrea Stramaccioni’s Inter side which has contributed to their poor form. The Nerazzurri have now lost five off their last six games and come off the back of a 3-1 loss at the hands of Napoli on the weekend.

Besides the injury to influential captain Javier Zanetti, Inter crucially find themselves depleted in the forward department. Ricky Alvarez and Fredy Guarin were deployed in a makeshift strike force against Napoli as Stramaccioni finds himself with not one single fully fit forward. Antonio Cassano has returned to training though and Inter will be hoping he can take the field against Lazio.

Despite the numerous problems facing Inter, injured Argentine forward Diego Milito claims his side will qualify for the Europa League. “I regret not being able to help my teammates, but I am convinced that we will get a place in the Europa League”, he told Sky Sport Italia.

Lazio will enter the tie with confidence after their recent poor run of form came to an end with a 6-0 humiliation of Bologna over the weekend. German international, Miroslav Klose remarkably netted five goals and will be Lazio’s main threat against the Nerazzurri.

The Biancolesti beat Inter 1-0 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, with same man Klose grabbing the winner.

Lazio may still have the Coppa Italia final to look forward to but will also be hoping for a strong end to the league season. After challenging for a top three place through the first half of the season, they are now three points adrift from Roma in 5th place.

With both sides desperate for a victory this promises to be an enticing affair. Inter have their backs to the wall and will have to dig deep to see off the challenge of Valdimir Petkovic’s side.