The Eternal City is set to host a clash of Italian football titans as Roma welcome defending Serie A champions Inter Milan to the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, October 20, 2024. This highly anticipated matchup pits a resurgent Roma side against an Inter team looking to maintain their title defense momentum.
Roma find themselves in 9th place after a mixed start to the season under new manager Ivan Juric. The Giallorossi have accumulated 10 points from their first 7 matches, most recently drawing 1-1 with Monza before the international break. While Roma have shown flashes of potential, consistency has eluded them thus far.
Inter Milan, meanwhile, sit 2nd in the table, just two points behind leaders Napoli. The Nerazzurri have lost only once this campaign and enter this match on a three-game unbeaten run in Serie A. Their last outing saw them secure a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Torino.
Recent history favors the visitors, with Inter winning six of the last eight Serie A meetings between these sides. Roma have particularly struggled at home against Inter, failing to win any of their last six league encounters at the Olimpico – a winless run stretching back to 2016.
Paulo Dybala returns from injury and will be crucial to Roma’s attacking threat. The Argentine is closing in on 125 Serie A goals, which would place him third all-time among his countrymen in Italy’s top flight. Artem Dovbyk has been cleared to play after an injury scare and will look to add to his goal tally as Roma’s top scorer this season.
– Marcus Thuram has been in scintillating form, netting 7 goals in his first 7 league matches. Only Kylian Mbappé has been involved in more goals among French players in Europe’s top 5 leagues since last season. Lautaro Martinez, last season’s Capocannoniere, will aim to rediscover his scoring touch after a relatively quiet start to the campaign.
Roma are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Dybala and captain Lorenzo Pellegrini supporting Dovbyk in attack. Inter will likely stick with their tried-and-tested 3-5-2 system, featuring the potent strike partnership of Thuram and Martinez.
Team News
Stephan El Shaarawy and Alexis Saelemaekers are sidelined, while Enzo Le Fee faces a late fitness test. Nicolo Barella returns to the squad, but Piotr Zielinski is out with a thigh injury.
Expected Starting XIs
Roma: Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Celik, Cristante, Pisilli, Angelino; Pellegrini, Dybala; Dovbyk
Inter: Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Match Prediction
While Roma have scored in their last 24 home league matches, Inter’s firepower and recent dominance in this fixture give them the edge. Expect an entertaining contest with goals at both ends, but the champions should have enough quality to secure a narrow victory.
Prediction: Roma 1-2 Inter Milan
