Stadio Olimpico forms the backdrop for a blockbuster clash between Serie A top-four hopefuls Roma and Inter on Saturday. As the 2022/23 season reaches the business end, the margins tend to tighten, and the intensity heightens.
As a closely-contested top-four race sets for its climax, the stakes are at the ultimate high for both teams, especially Roma. The Giallorossi fell two points behind fourth-placed Inter after a 1-1 draw at Monza on Wednesday condemned them to a third consecutive league match without a win (D2, L1). But losing ground on the Nerazzurri may not be the only repercussion of that stalemate.
Charismatic manager Jose Mourinho lost his temper at the Stadio Brianteo and is now at risk of missing Inter’s visit to Rome following his rant on referee Daniele Chiffi. It wasn’t the first time this season that the Portuguese tactician had a heated discussion with match officials, but he couldn’t have picked a worse time to risk another suspension. Not with a coveted top-four finish on the line.
While each side could still secure Champions League qualification through European competitions, it feels like Serie A offers the easiest route. That especially goes for Inter, who will take on fierce rivals Milan in the first leg of their semi-final next week. Simone Inzaghi’s team took full advantage of their rivals’ slip-ups in midweek to move two points clear in fourth.
Inspired by a come-from-behind 3-1 home win over Roma’s city rivals Lazio last Sunday, Inter demolished relegation-battling Hellas Verona 6-0 on Wednesday in their most prolific performance of the season. And while their hosts look to be running out of steam, the Nerazzurri are seemingly gathering momentum ahead of the season finale.
But given the circumstances, they cannot afford to be caught off guard in Rome.
Match Preview
Roma
After a hat-trick of winless outings in Serie A, Roma will be desperate to restore some confidence against Inter, especially with the Europa League semi-final clash against Bayer Leverkusen awaiting them next week. Mourinho’s men were inches from posting an all-important home win over Milan last weekend before conceding a morale-crushing 97th-minute equalizer in a dramatic 1-1 home draw.
That result marked only Roma’s second failed attempt to land three points in nine Serie A home matches in 2023 (W7, D1, L1). The clean sheet has been a common theme in their home triumphs this calendar year, as all seven have seen the Giallorossi win without conceding. With that in mind, Roma will seek a strong start as they bid to complete a league double over Inter.
Player to Watch: Tammy Abraham
Despite blowing hot and cold the whole season, Abraham has peaked in time to bolster Roma’s top-four charge, tallying a pair of goals and two assists in his last three Serie A appearances at home.
Inter
After back-to-back one-goal margin defeats at Bologna and Spezia, Inter have gone unbeaten on their last three league travels (W2, D1), including a brace of 3+ goal margin victories ‘to nil’ in the build-up to this trip. Having scored 6+ goals in a Serie A match for the first time since 2013, Inzaghi’s men will take the field in high spirits, looking to avoid an unwanted feat.
Following a 2-1 defeat in the reverse fixture, Inter could lose consecutive league meetings with Roma for the first time since 2017. However, their impressive five-match unbeaten Serie A run against the Giallorossi in the capital (W2, D3) ought to give them enough strength to weather the storm on Saturday. As does a confidence-boosting streak of three straight clean sheets on the road.
Player to Watch: Edin Dzeko
Fresh from notching up a double in Wednesday’s humbling of Verona, Dzeko comes into this fixture to upset his former side. He did just that when the two teams met in this match-up last season, scoring in Inter’s overwhelming 3-0 triumph.
Team News
In addition to Marash Kumbulla, Roma will have to manage without Stephan El Shaarawy, who picked up an injury against Monza. But it wasn’t the only setback the Giallorossi suffered at Brianteo, as Zeki Celik received a red card. On the bright side, Nemanja Matic is back after serving a one-game ban.
As for Inter, Robin Gosens has joined Dalbert and Milan Skirniar in the treatment room after disclocating his shoulder against Lazio. Luckily for Inzaghi, these are the only missing pieces ahead of this must-win trip to the capital.
Roma vs Inter Potential Lineups
Roma (3-4-2-1): Rui Patricio; Gianluca Mancini, Roger Ibanez, Chris Smalling; Nicola Zalewski, Bryan Cristante, Nemanja Matic, Leonardo Spinazzola; Lorenzo Pellegrini, Paulo Dybala; Tammy Abraham.
Inter (3-5-2): Andre Onana; Alessandro Bastoni, Stefan de Vrij, Francesco Acerbi; Denzel Dumfries, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Federico Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Edin Dzeko.
Roma vs Inter Prediction
Given what’s at stake, we anticipate a conservative approach from both sides, which could lead to a low-scoring affair. However, we give Inter the upper hand, even though a draw emerges as the likeliest scenario.
Prediction: Draw
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