In a very riveting clash lined-up in the Serie A this weekend, AS Roma host Inter Milan at the Stadio Olimpico in a battle where the sides will be aiming to boost their European hopes.
Both teams are gunning for a Champions League place for next season, and the outcome of this exciting tie will go some way in suggesting the third team to qualify for Europe’s premier competition.
Whilst the Giallorossis are finding their mojo back under new manager Luciano Spalletti, having won each of their last eight domestic ties, the Nerazzurris are on the wane. With only five victories from the 11 games played in the calender year, La Beneamata have been knocked off their perch and relegated to 5th in the table.
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Although all is not lost just yet, but the race towards the finish line is fast approaching it’s crescendo and the teams do not have much time left to achieve their objectives.
With Juventus and Napoli all but certain to runaway with the top two places, the third one is still up for grabs, and the likes of Roma and Inter are all set go hammer and tongs in pursuit.
Here is everything that you need to know about the gripping fixture.
Kickoff and Telecast
Date and Time: 20 March 2016 – 1.15 am (IST)
Live Telecast:Sony Six, Six HD
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Team News
AS Roma: The hosts will be bolstered by the return of Antonio Rudiger and club icon Francesco Totti, which means manager Luciano Spalletti has the entire team at his disposal.
Inter Milan: Roberto Mancini will have Marcelo Brozovic fit again, but will have to take late decisions on striker Mauro Icardi and midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia.
Possible line-ups
AS Roma (4-2-3-1): Szczesny, Florenzi, Manolas, Zubas, Digne, Nainggolan, Keita, Salah, Perotti, El Shaarawy, Dzeko
Inter Milan (4-2-3-1): Handanovic, D'Ambrosio, Miranda, Juan Jesus, Nagatomo, Brozovic, Medel, Ljajic, Eder, Perisic, Icardi
Team Form
Without a shadow of doubt, AS Roma are the form team entering the fray. With 8 league victories on the trot, La Maggica have reignited their campaign which appeared to be falling through the cracks under previous honcho Rudi Garcia.
The arrival of Luciano Spalletti has certainly had positive repercussions on the side as Roma are once again back to their scorching best and firing at all cylinders.
Their impeccable run of form has propelled the capital club to third in the standings after spending some weeks in the abyss of mid-table mediocrity, and with no more European games to cause any distraction, Roma have all the time to focus solely on their league campaign hereon.
Last 5 games: W-W-W-L-W (Last match: Udinese 1-2 AS Roma)
On the flip side, Inter Milan are struggling to reconjure the form that made them a strong contender for the Serie A crown at one point in the season. Having picked up only 18 points from a possible 33 this year, the Nerazzurris are faltering in their trails.
A dream return to the Champions League that appeared to be a guarantee a few weeks back, has now become a distant memory, with Roma and Fiorentina stealing a march over them, the going has got really tough for Mancini’s men.
With only nine more games to salvage, the blue half of Milan have little time to pick themselves up and need to muster their A1 game before their last bean of hope is also squished.
Last 5 games: W-L-W-W-W (Last match: Inter Milan 2-1 Bologna)
Key stats
- Inter Milan have won only 2 of the last 12 games against AS Roma.
- Inter Milan haven’t won in their last 5 away games.
- Inter Milan haven't beaten AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico since the 1-0 victory in the league back in 2010.
Key battle
Mohamed Salah vs The Inter Milan defence
AS Roma forward Mohamed Salah will be the man in brown worth keeping an eye on. The Egyptian pitbull has been in a red hot form for the Romans, striking 11 times in the league thus far and will most likely be the biggest threat coming from the home side.
The former Chelsea outcast has redeemed his status this season, and has played an instrumental role in firing Roma back into the top three. With great composure on the ball and a keen eye for goal, dealing with this 23-year-old dynamite is no child’s play.
The Inter Milan defence will need to keep close tabs on his movements and restrict him from having much influence on the game, if there were to harbour any hopes of coming away with atleast a point.
Prediction
You can bet your dollars to doughnuts that Roma will take this one given the searing form they are in right now. Having won eight games on the spin in the league, visitors Inter Milan will surely have a long night in Rome in trying to halt this juggernaut.
Expect Roma to pump in a pair of strikes early in the game and kill the tie off before Inter wake from their slumber.
Predicted score: AS Roma 2-1 Inter Milan
Betting Odds (bet365)
AS Roma – 17/10
Draw – 37/10
Inter Milan – 5/1
