Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Roma vs. Inter Milan - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 8 February 2024, 15:36
After Derby d'Italia victory left them four points clear at the top of Serie A, Inter Milan aim to drive home their advantage on Saturday, when they meet resurgent Roma.

The teams convene at Stadio Olimpico, with the hosts hoping to keep ascending the standings under new management and Inter seeking a fifth league win on the spin.

Match preview

Making them firm favourites to reclaim the Italian title in May, Inter saw off nearest challengers Juventus last weekend, when the Milan giants went ahead via Federico Gatti's first-half own goal and then held their old foes at bay until the final whistle.

In fact, the Nerazzurri had a handful of other chances to put the result beyond doubt, but a slim 1-0 success still secured their sixth win from six in 2024; a run which has helped them defend the Supercoppa Italiana and edge further away from their Scudetto rivals.

Gatti's mishap means Inter have become just the second club ever to score in 22 straight matches from the start of a Serie A season, and not only do they now have a four-point lead over Juve - with one game in hand - but momentum is on their side as springtime approaches.

A measure of their sustained excellence is that Simone Inzaghi's side boast the best goal difference across Europe's top five leagues, with +41 being one better than German giants Bayern Munich.

Despite a spell on the sidelines through injury, ex-Bayern defender Benjamin Pavard has been integrated into an already impressive back three, behind which Yann Sommer - who also left Munich last year - has proved a more than able replacement for Andre Onana.

As demonstrated by shutting out in-form Juventus, defensive discipline has helped Inter to thwart all-comers, as they have conceded just 10 league goals so far. Only one other side have matched such a record during this century: Roma's team of 2003-04, overseen by Fabio Capello.

Following their 1-0 defeat in October's reverse fixture, a far less formidable Roma than Capello's crop have lost five of their last six Serie A meetings with Inter - including both of the last two while failing to score.

Indeed, the capital club are also winless in each of the teams' last six league contests at Stadio Olimpico - a drought dating back to late 2016.

However, after sacking former Inter boss Jose Mourinho last month, Roma have won each of their first three matches under new coach Daniele De Rossi, including last week's comprehensive 4-0 defeat of Cagliari, in which Paulo Dybala struck twice and captain Lorenzo Pellegrini continued his recent goalscoring run.

Another victory on Saturday would see the relative rookie become the first manager to take charge during a Serie A season and immediately win four straight games for more than a decade - but after beating three teams battling for survival, the Giallorossi's opponents will be in a different class this weekend.

Wins over the top flight's lesser lights still represent three points, so Roma's upturn in fortunes has elevated them to fifth in the table - one point shy of the Champions League places - since De Rossi's return.

While unbeaten at home since September, a true test of their mettle will come in the next few days: after Inter arrive in Rome, familiar foes Feyenoord then await in the Europa League's knockout-round playoffs.

Roma Serie A form:

L

D

L

W

W

W

Roma form (all competitions):

L

L

W

W

W

W

Inter Milan Serie A form:

W

D

W

W

W

W

Inter Milan form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

W

Team News

Unlikely to change a winning formula, Simone Inzaghi should send Inter out in their familiar 3-5-2 formation, with few - if any - changes of personnel.

Only fringe players Juan Cuadrado (Achilles) and Davide Frattesi (muscular) are ruled out by injury, so Inzaghi is set to name his strongest side at Stadio Olimpico.

Marcus Thuram will join captain Lautaro Martinez up front, with the latter just one goal away from reaching 20 in three consecutive campaigns; meanwhile, midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu will aim to hit double figures for only the second time in his career - and first for 10 years - having also completed the most passes in Serie A this season, averaging 60 per game.

Ex-Inter striker Romelu Lukaku, who scored 57 times in 97 league appearances for the Nerazzurri, failed to find the target for Roma last week so is still one goal shy of notching 10 or more for a ninth time in the last decade.

Once again, Paulo Dybala and Stephan El Shaarawy should support Lukaku in the hosts' attack, as Daniele De Rossi also keeps faith with a successful starting XI.

Although Sardar Azmoun returns following Iran's Asian Cup exit, Tammy Abraham and Chris Smalling are still unavailable - though the latter recently returned to training - while Evan Ndicka will be lining up for Ivory Coast in Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations final.

Roma possible starting lineup:

Patricio; Karsdorp, Mancini, Llorente, Angelino; Pellegrini, Paredes, Cristante; El Shaarawy, Dybala; Lukaku

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:

Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez

We say: Roma 2-2 Inter Milan

Previews by email

Top News

26 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Slovakia vs. Romania (Wednesday, 5.00pm) In the most hotly-contested group at Euro 2024, third-placed Slovakia are set to face leaders Romania on Wednesday in Group E at Deutsche Bank Park in each side's final group stage game, and the winner could qualify for the knockout rounds in first place. 26 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham have reportedly stood firm on their asking price for Bayern Munich target Joao Palhinha. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has encouraged head coach Arne Slot to sign a new "number six" in the summer transfer window. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to snap their four-match winless run, Sao Paulo play host to Criciuma at the Estadio do Morumbi in round 12 of the Brasileiro Serie A on Wednesday. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly offered out-of-favour winger Jadon Sancho to La Liga giants Barcelona this summer. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are reportedly open to selling midfielder Ilkay Gundogan this summer amid concerns over their financial situation. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly made contact with Barcelona to inform them that they expect to sign Marc Guiu. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Denmark were evidently riding high on confidence after their impressive performance against England, as they pressed Serbia aggressively to good effect from the front and dictated the tempo of the game in possess with patient build-up play, picking their moments to get players into the opposing box. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England have finished top of Group C at Euro 2024 despite playing out a drab 0-0 draw with Slovenia at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne on Tuesday night. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final round of Euro 2024 group matches is in full swing as teams battle it out to reach the knockout rounds in Germany. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Austria have qualified for the last 16 of Euro 2024 as Group D winners after beating the Netherlands 3-2 in a thriller at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Tuesday evening. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk France missed out on top spot in Group D after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Poland despite Kylian Mbappe scoring his first goal at a European Championship. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England reached the Euro 2024 knockout rounds on Monday after Spain claimed a 1-0 victory in their final group game against Albania. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug has reportedly been identified as a summer transfer target by fellow Bundesliga club Stuttgart. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest have announced that they have completed the signing of highly-rated Eric da Silva Moreira. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The USA can potentially qualify for the knockout stage of the Copa America on Thursday when they face Panama in matchday two action at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea will reportedly face competition from a Champions League club if they pursue a deal for Hoffenheim forward Maximilian Beier. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have been handed a major boost in their efforts to sign Guido Rodriguez. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fluminense and Vitoria, both struggling at the foot of the 2024 Brasileiro Serie A table, go head-to-head on Thursday at the Maracana. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have confirmed that Nacho will be leaving the club at the end of this month. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly been handed a major boost in their efforts to sign Nottingham Forest defender Murillo. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in the signing of Roma attacker Paulo Dybala this summer. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea reportedly intend to send Alfie Gilchrist out on loan for the 2024-25 campaign. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton have reportedly reached an agreement with Marseille to sign striker Iliman Ndiaye. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Granit Xhaka will be looking to equal a European Championship record set by Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo when Switzerland face Italy in the last 16 of Euro 2024. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As England prepare to face Slovenia on Tuesday in their final group game at Euro 2024, debate rages on about how Gareth Southgate can get the best out of the talent at his disposal given his team's lacklustre showings against Serbia and Denmark. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Belgium will hope to extend a record that has lasted since 2000 when they square off against Ukraine on Wednesday evening. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Italy manager Luciano Spalletti has hit out at his players who were 'below their usual level' in a last-gasp 1-1 draw with Croatia at Euro 2024 on Monday. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sandefjord and HamKam square off in Eliteserien on Thursday looking to move clear of the relegation zone.