Defending Serie A champions Inter stormed to a 6-0 win at Lazio on Monday, sending out a statement of their Scudetto intentions.

The Nerazzurri had to survive a spell of Lazio pressure early on as Tijjani Noslin twice went close for the hosts, but they did not look back after going ahead in bizarre circumstances in the 41st minute.

Stefan de Vrij initially saw a close-range finish chalked off due to a Denzel Dumfries foul amid a goalmouth scramble, but when referee Daniele Chiffi was sent to the monitor for a pitchside VAR review, he instead penalised Samuel Gigot for handball and awarded an Inter penalty, which Hakan Calhanoglu converted. 

Four minutes later, Inter doubled their advantage through Federico Dimarco, who beat Ivan Provedel on the volley from Dumfries' cross.

The Nerazzurri then streaked clear after half-time as Simone Inzaghi inflicted a crushing defeat on his former club – Nicolo Barella slotted home to make it 3-0 six minutes after the restart before Dumfries headed in a fourth two minutes later.

Carlos Augusto and Marcus Thuram completed the rout late on, the former showing great footwork inside a crowded area to slot home, before the latter powered his finish inside the near post.

Inter remain third in the standings with 34 points from 15 matches but now trail leaders Atalanta by just three points with a game in hand. Lazio are fifth on 31 from 16 matches.

Data Debrief: Historic defeat for Biancocelesti 

Monday's defeat was the first Lazio had ever suffered by six goals on their own turf in Serie A, while Inter have now netted 47 times on their travels in the Italian top flight in 2024.

That is a new club record for away goals scored by the Nerazzurri in a single calendar year.

They last scored six times in a league game in May 2023, when they routed Hellas Verona by the same scoreline on their travels.