Roma and Inter face each other Saturday, September 19th at 18 p.m. at the Olimpico, in the big match of the fifth round of Serie A. It's a clash between the two teams at the top of the table: both have collected 12 points from the first four rounds and are still at full points. Roma overcame Torino in the last round, while Inter beat Udinese 5-3 after going two goals down. The Italian champions, Nerazzurri, therefore arrive in the capital with four consecutive victories, as do the Giallorossi. Inter will play wearing black armbands due to the passing of the great Sandro Mazzola, one of the greatest champions of Italian football and son of the legend Valentino Mazzola, who died in 1949 with the Grande Torino.
The match at the Olimpico will be refereed by Davide Massa, with Mazzoleni acting as VAR referee. The match at the Olimpico is also the first meeting of the season between two teams that, after four matchdays, have shown impressive attacking numbers: Inter scored 13 goals, Roma 12.
Precedents smile on Inter
The recent balance sheet shows a particularly favorable match for the Nerazzurri. Inter are unbeaten in 16 of their last 18 league matches against Roma, with ten wins and six draws. In their last eleven Serie A matches, the record is even clearer: nine Inter wins and two defeats, with 24 goals scored.
The most significant data, however, concerns the Olimpico. Inter have won their last five league away matches against Roma., scoring 11 goals and conceding only two. The Giallorossi have not beaten the Nerazzurri at home in Serie A since October 2, 2016: in their subsequent nine home games, they have drawn three and lost six. It's also a historic fixture: Roma vs. Inter is the match with the highest total of goals in Serie A history, 540 in 186 matches.
Probable lineups
Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to retain his three-man defense, with Svilar in goal and Mancini, N'Dicka, and Hermoso in front of the goalkeeper. Molina, Cristante, Koné, and Wesley are expected in midfield, while the attacking midfield Soulé and Dybala should act behind MalenRoma have no suspended players; N'Dicka's condition remains to be assessed, while Koné and Wesley are among the players expected to be fully recovered.
At Inter, Cristian Chivu is expected to deploy a 3-5-2 formation. Martinez is favored in goal, with Bisseck, Akanji, and Bastoni in the defensive line. Diouf, Barella, Zielinski, Carlos Augusto, and Dimarco will be in midfield, while Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram are expected to start in attack. The main doubt concerns the midfield, with Calhanoglu injured. In defense, Stones is struggling with physical problems.
The stakes: solitary primacy
There are not only three points at stake, because the calendar already offers a fifth day direct clash between the two teams with full pointsThe winner will remain alone on 15 points and finish the round at the top of the table; a draw would keep both teams undefeated and leave the top spot open. This is an important step, especially for assessing the performance of the two teams against direct opponents after a perfect start to the season.
Roma can also end a long losing streak at the Olimpico against Inter and maintain the home form they've shown in the opening weeks. The Nerazzurri, on the other hand, have the opportunity to extend their winning streak and defend first place after four matchdays. The numbers add another layer to the challenge: Roma and Inter are the two teams that have scored the most goals in this championship and also those with the most shots on target.
