Inter v Roma is a Serie A Week 8 match played on Saturday at 18:00: odds, predictions, TV and streaming.
Simone Inzaghi to ‘take cover’ from the criticism that rained down on him after yet another false step in the first half of the season. José Mourinho to give the first disappointment to his old team, which last year between the league and Coppa Italia inflicted three heavy beatings on the Giallorossi led by the Special One. It cannot be said that there is a lack of motivation for the coaches of Inter and Roma, by now one of the classics of our Serie A and one that each time offers different points of interest. Let’s start by saying that for both of them everything is not going so smoothly. The Nerazzurri, beaten three times in seven matches, have only 12 points, five to make up against the leading pair of Napoli and Atalanta. Lautaro Martinez and his teammates had closed with an ugly defeat at home to Udinese, victorious 3-1 in a comeback.
This was the third knockout for Inter after those suffered away to Lazio and AC Milan and to Bayern Munich at the San Siro in the Champions League. In Friuli, Inzaghi recorded a worrying step backwards that downgraded the double success achieved against Torino and Viktoria Plzen. Under indictment is once again the defence, which has gone back to what it did in pre-season: among the top eight, none have conceded more goals than Inter (11). Roma have one point more than the Nerazzurri in the last match, having collected their third defeat in the last five outings. At the Olimpico against Atalanta, Mourinho’s men – expelled for protests and therefore absent from the ‘Meazza’ bench – would have deserved at least a draw, but in the end they surrendered (0-1) to a cynical Dea and even a bit lucky. The feeling is that even the Capitolini are struggling to find continuity of performance.
Inter v Roma: latest line-up info
Mourinho
Bad news for Inzaghi on the Lukaku front: the Belgian striker was due to return after the break but apparently his recovery time has lengthened. Up front, the Piacenza coach will once again rely on the tandem formed by Lautaro and the former Dzeko. News instead in midfield where Brozovic is disqualified – but he got injured with his Croatia team in the Nations League and will have to stay out for a month – and will be replaced by Asllani. Finally, on the left flank, Gosens will get the better of Dimarco.
At the other end, Mourinho will be able to count on Dybala, who has recovered from muscle trouble, and also on Pellegrini. The Joya will probably start from the bench while the captain will flank Zaniolo in the three-quarter, behind Abraham. For the rest, Celik will replace the injured Karsdorp and in the middle Matic and Cristante will duet.
The prediction
Five years. That’s how long it’s been since Roma last won against Inter, who have not conceded against the Giallorossi since 2017. To track down a success for the capitolini, however, we have to go all the way back to 2013. The Nerazzurri are less scary this year, but they have a great desire for redemption after the Udine drubbing, and their reaction is likely. In any case, we expect more balance than in the last three matches, given the particular moment they are both going through. There should be no shortage of goals at the San Siro, with both sides likely to score.
Inter v Roma likely line-ups
- INTER (3-5-2): Handanovic; Skriniar, de Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Asllani, Calhanoglu, Gosens; Lautaro Martinez, Dzeko.
- ROMA (3-4-2-1): Rui Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Celik, Cristante, Matic, Spinazzola; Pellegrini, Zaniolo; Abraham.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2
