Serie A Preview: Roma vs Inter – Team News, Line-ups & Prediction | OneFootball

Stadio Olimpico sets the stage for a mouth-watering Serie A encounter between familiar foes Roma and Inter. Sunday’s blockbuster fixture in the capital pits two teams with lofty ambitions against each other for the second time in 2024.

Roma would want to erase the memory of a horrendous 4-2 defeat on this ground in February. That was Daniele De Rossi’s first loss in charge of the Giallorossi. His successor, Ivan Juric, will aim to avoid the same fate after going unbeaten in his first three league games at the helm.

Juric’s touchline debut was a resounding success. Roma thrashed Udinese 3-0 at this stadium before coming from behind to overcome newly promoted Venezia 2-1. Artem Dovbyk didn’t score in that match, but after a stuttering start in Serie A, he’s firing on all cylinders.

The Ukrainian center-forward fired Roma 1-0 up in their last Serie A outing against Monza, only for Dany Mota to steal a point for the Biancorossi on the stroke of October’s international break. It was Dovbyk’s third goal across his last four league appearances, making him a permanent threat.

Speaking of threats, Marcus Thuram has become one of the deadliest strikers in Serie A. The Frenchman bagged a match-winning hat-trick in a 3-2 home triumph against Torino last time out, helping Inter enter the international break only two points below table-topping Napoli.

However, these are uncertain times at Giuseppe Meazza amid the ongoing ‘Double Curva’ probe. After Simone Inzaghi and Javier Zanetti, Hakan Calhanoglu had to testify in one of the most shocking cases in recent Serie A history.

Therefore, Inter will be out to give their fans something to cheer about and solidify their status as the hottest Scudetto candidates.

Match Preview

Roma

With only two wins from the opening seven rounds (D4, L1), Roma had spent a two-week break from club football in ninth. But they’re only three points adrift of fourth-placed Lazio, suggesting a long-awaited return to the Champions League proper remains firmly on the cards.

It’s been seven years since Roma last featured in Europe’s most prestigious club competition. It’s up to Juric to orchestrate Giallorossi’s return to Europe’s top table, and what better way to announce their candidacy than beating the reigning Serie A champions?

However, that’s a feat Roma have achieved only once in their last 14 league matches against Inter (D6, L7). Their free-scoring home form could be a difference-making factor this time. Juric’s charges have scored in their last 24 competitive outings at the Olimpico – their longest such run since September 2017.

Inter

After leaving runners-up Milan 19 points behind en route to their 20th Scudetto last term, Inter’s Serie A title defense has been off to a mixed start (W4, D2, L1). But back-to-back 3-2 wins against Udinese and Torino have reignited confidence around Inzaghi’s camp.

Delivering action from the get-go, Inter have netted a league-high four goals inside the opening 15 minutes this season. Another quick-fire start could be crucial for the visitors’ bid to defy an underwhelming run of three draws from their last four Serie A travels (W1).

Against this backdrop, Inter have got the better of Roma in their last three top-flight meetings at the Olimpico, with each victory yielding multiple-goal margins. Another high-scoring appearance would see the Nerazzurri make history on Sunday and become the first team in Serie A to score 300 goals against specific opposition.

Team News

Roma will be without Milan loanee Alexis Saelemaekers and long-serving winger Stephan El Shaarawy. There are question marks over the heads of Mats Hummels and Enzo Le Fee, with the former still waiting for his Serie A debut amid an injury-hit start to life in Rome.

On the other hand, Inter cannot call upon long-term absentee Tajon Buchanan for this trip. However, talismanic midfielder Nicolo Barella is about to return to the pitch after a month on the sidelines. Piotr Zielinski remains the only doubt after picking up a hamstring injury for Poland.

Roma vs Inter Potential Line-ups

Roma (3-4-2-1): Mile Svilar; Gianluca Mancini, Evan Ndicka, Mario Hermoso; Zeki Celik, Bryan Cristante, Niccolo Pisilli, Angelino; Lorenzo Pellegrini, Paulo Dybala; Artem Dovbyk.

Inter (3-5-2): Yann Sommer; Benjamin Pavard, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni; Matteo Darmian, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco; Marcus Thuram, Lautaro Martinez.

Roma vs Inter Prediction

Yet to lose on the road in 2024/25, Inter ought to take the field in a buoyant mood. Despite Roma’s mini-revival under Juric, we expect the Nerazzurri to make it four consecutive league victories at the Olimpico.