7M - Serie A Preview: Inter Milan vs Roma - prediction, team news, lineups

Inter Milan welcome Roma to San Siro this Sunday evening as the Serie A title race intensifies with eight matchdays remaining. The Nerazzurri currently lead the standings by six points over city rivals AC Milan, while Roma sit level on 54 points with Juventus, three adrift of fourth-placed Como in the battle for Champions League qualification.

Match preview

Inter Milan have experienced a challenging period across multiple competitions, particularly following the absence of captain Lautaro Martinez. After their Derby d'Italia victory over Juventus, the defending champions suffered back-to-back defeats to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League, which ended their European campaign. Domestically, they secured a win against Genoa and a goalless Coppa Italia draw with Como, but then fell to AC Milan in the Derby della Madonnina.

A late equalizer from Atalanta denied Inter three points, marking the first time since April 2023 that they went three consecutive league matches without a victory. Before the international break, they surrendered an early advantage against Fiorentina at Stadio Franchi, ultimately drawing 1-1. Despite this recent dip, Inter remain formidable at home in Serie A, recording 11 wins, two draws and only two losses at San Siro this campaign.

Cristian Chivu's side still hold a strong position to potentially secure a domestic double, as their Coppa Italia semi-final against Como concludes with a home leg later this month. They won the reverse fixture against Roma 1-0 in October and will look to replicate that result to maintain pressure on their title rivals.

Roma arrive in Milan seeking consistency after a turbulent spell. Following a disappointing Europa League elimination to Bologna, they ended a five-match winless run with a 1-0 victory over Lecce before the international break. That result positioned them alongside Juventus on 54 points, keeping their Champions League qualification hopes alive.

However, Roma face a demanding schedule ahead, with fixtures against Atalanta, Fiorentina, Bologna, and Lazio still to come. Their away form presents concerns, having accumulated 10 fewer points on the road compared to home fixtures this season. Seven of their 10 league defeats have occurred away from home, and their last away victory across all competitions dates back to January.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has lost 18 of his 32 meetings against Inter, more than against any other opponent. Despite Roma's recent improvement at San Siro, winning two of their last three visits, their overall away record suggests a challenging task ahead.

Team News

Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez is set to make his first start since February, providing a significant boost to the attacking line. The Argentine striker continues to lead the Capocannoniere standings with 14 Serie A goals, eight of which have opened the scoring. Marcus Thuram, who recently ended a 17-game goal drought for France, will compete with Pio Esposito for a starting berth. Esposito has scored Inter's last two goals but faced criticism after Italy's World Cup playoff penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Defender Alessandro Bastoni, who was sent off during that international fixture, is expected to start despite media scrutiny. Yann Bisseck and Carlos Augusto remain sidelined through injury, while Francesco Acerbi could partner Bastoni in central defense. Acerbi would likely be tasked with containing Roma's in-form striker Donyell Malen, who has scored seven Serie A goals since joining in January.

For Roma, Paulo Dybala and Artem Dovbyk are nearing returns from injury, but Evan Ferguson remains unavailable with an ankle problem. Matias Soule and Manu Kone have returned to full training, but Wesley suffered a muscular injury while on Brazil duty and will be absent for at least two weeks. The Netherlands international Malen has been Roma's key attacking outlet during this injury crisis.

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Akanji, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez

Roma possible starting lineup:
Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Celik, Cristante, El Aynaoui, Tsimikas; Soule, Pellegrini; Malen

Prediction: Inter Milan 1-0 Roma

This encounter pits Inter's home strength against Roma's need for away points in a crucial phase of the season. The return of Lautaro Martinez should provide the spark Inter have lacked in recent weeks, while Roma's defensive resilience on the road has been inconsistent. With both teams managing injury concerns and Roma facing a congested fixture list, a closely fought contest is expected.

Inter's experience in high-pressure home matches and their superior head-to-head record at San Siro give them a slight edge, though Roma possess the quality to capitalize on any defensive lapses.