Inter Milan will be aiming to bounce back from their stunning Coppa Italia loss to AC Milan when they face AS Roma on Sunday.

The Giuseppe Meazza plays host to a blockbuster Sunday evening clash as Inter Milan welcome a red-hot AS Roma side in a match that could have major implications for the Serie A title race and the Champions League spots.

For much of the season, Inter Milan looked untouchable at the top of the table, powered by a well-drilled system under Simone Inzaghi and the ruthless finishing of Lautaro Martinez. But as spring rolled in, the Nerazzurri’s relentless engine began to sputter.

After back-to-back defeats, first in the league to Bologna and then a harrowing 3-0 collapse to AC Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg, Inter now find themselves level on points with Napoli, with the title race blown wide open. Fatigue, both mental and physical, is beginning to take its toll on a squad that had gone unbeaten in 13 prior to the Bologna loss.

Their defence, once among the most miserly in Europe, has conceded five goals in their last two outings. This is uncharacteristic and alarming at the business end of the season. Their dominance in the Derby della Madonnina was shattered in midweek, and while Inter fans will be looking for a response, they will be wary of a surging Roma side that has become Serie A’s most in-form team in 2025.

Inzaghi now must strike a delicate balance between rotation and restoration, knowing a clash with Barcelona awaits in the Champions League semi-finals. On the other side, AS Roma arrive with wind in their sails. Under the wise, calming leadership of Claudio Ranieri — once dismissed as yesterday’s man- the Giallorossi are writing a new chapter.

Unbeaten in their last 17 league matches, Roma have turned around what seemed like another lost season into a genuine push for Champions League qualification. Currently three points off fourth place, Roma have found consistency and defensive resilience, coupled with better productivity in front of goal. The likes of Tammy Abraham and Lorenzo Pellegrini are leading from the front, while their midfield balance has improved significantly under Ranieri’s pragmatic approach.

Yet, history will not be on Roma’s side. They have only won once in their last 15 Serie A meetings against Inter and have suffered defeat in seven of the last eight. At home, Inter have been a thorn in Roma’s side, and despite their current blip, the champions still possess enough firepower to hurt any team in Italy.

What sets this meeting apart is the form contrast. Inter are wounded and possibly stretched too thin. Roma, meanwhile, are fresher and freer, playing with momentum and belief. But does Roma’s long unbeaten run mean they are due a fall? Or will Inzaghi’s men respond to the growing pressure with a show of champions’ resolve? The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.

Team News & Tactics

Inter Milan

Inter Milan’s relentless schedule continues to stretch Simone Inzaghi’s squad depth, with their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona looming on the horizon. Understandably, Inzaghi could look to rotate his starting eleven following the draining defeat to AC Milan in midweek. A handful of key players will also be missing for Sunday’s crucial clash against Roma.

Denzel Dumfries and Piotr Zielinski have returned to full training, but both are short of match fitness and are unlikely to start. Inter are further hampered by the suspensions of Alessandro Bastoni and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who will serve one-match bans after picking up too many yellow cards. To compound matters, striker Marcus Thuram remains a doubt due to ongoing muscle fatigue, meaning Simone Inzaghi will have to reshape his front line.

In the probable absence of Marcus Thuram, the responsibility of partnering captain Lautaro Martinez in attack will likely fall to one of Joaquin Correa, Marko Arnautovic, or Mehdi Taremi, all of whom are pushing for selection. Given Matteo Darmian’s heavy workload, Roma loanee Nicola Zalewski could be handed a rare start at right wing-back.

In central midfield, Hakan Calhanoglu should reclaim his place from Kristjan Asllani, bringing creativity and control alongside Nicolo Barella and Davide Frattesi. Yann Sommer is set to return between the posts after Josep Martinez started in the Coppa Italia midweek, while the back three is expected to comprise Benjamin Pavard, Francesco Acerbi, and Carlos Augusto.

In summary, injuries to Marcus Thuram and match fitness concerns over Denzel Dumfries and Piotr Zielinski, combined with the suspensions of Alessandro Bastoni and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, force Inzaghi into a balancing act between preserving energy for Europe and keeping pace in the Serie A title race.

Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Augusto; Zalewski, Barella, Calhanoglu, Frattesi, Dimarco; Arnautovic, Martinez

AS Roma

Claudio Ranieri has a near full-strength squad to choose from, with the only significant absentees being star forward Paulo Dybala, who continues to recover from a thigh problem, and Danish centre-back Victor Nelsson, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. In better news, captain Lorenzo Pellegrini has now fully recovered from a recent shoulder injury and should be available for selection.

The main selection dilemma for Ranieri revolves around who should lead the line in attack. Eldor Shomurodov, who scored the winning goal against Hellas Verona last week, will be pushing hard to retain his place in a 3-4-1-1 formation. However, Roma’s principal centre-forward Artem Dovbyk, who has been reliable throughout the campaign, is also in contention to start. Ranieri may opt for Dovbyk’s greater physicality and link-up play, particularly against Inter’s powerful back three.

In midfield, the partnership of Bryan Cristante and Leandro Paredes will provide the steel and creativity needed, with Alexis Saelemaekers and Kone likely offering width and work rate on the flanks. Rasmus Kristensen is set to feature in the backline alongside Gianluca Mancini and Evan Ndicka, while full-back Angelino could offer an attacking outlet on the left side.

Probable Lineup (3-4-1-1): Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Ndicka; Saelemaekers, Cristante, Paredes, Kone, Angelino; Soule; Dovbyk

Key Stats

• Inter are unbeaten in 14 of their last 15 Serie A matches against Roma (W8 D6), with Roma’s only win in this run coming in October 2022.

• Inter could win 5+ consecutive Serie A games against Roma for only the third time in their history, having done so previously between 1976–1978 and 1949–1953.

• In the last 19 Serie A meetings at San Siro/Giuseppe Meazza, both Inter and Roma have won six times with seven draws, but Inter have won three of the last four at home.

• After their loss to Bologna, Inter face the risk of back-to-back Serie A defeats for the first time in over two years, last occurring in March–April 2023.

• Inter have earned the most points (39) and scored the most goals (37) in home Serie A matches this season, though some teams have conceded fewer goals at home.

Player to Watch

Lautaro Martinez

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Whenever Inter Milan need inspiration, Lautaro Martinez remains the man they turn to. Even as Simone Inzaghi’s side have stuttered in recent matches, Lautaro Martinez’s influence remains undiminished, and he will once again carry the Nerazzurri’s hopes when they face Roma in a crucial Serie A clash.

The Argentine striker has been a consistent source of goals all season, leading Inter’s scoring charts and sitting high in the race for the Capocannoniere. His tireless work rate, intelligent movement, and ruthless finishing make him one of the most complete forwards in Europe right now.

With Marcus Thuram’s availability still in doubt and Inter’s frontline showing signs of fatigue, much responsibility will rest on Martinez’s shoulders. He is chasing a personal milestone too: should he find the net against Roma, he would become only the third player in Inter history to score 10 or more goals in Derby d’Italia encounters across all competitions.

In a match where margins will be fine and nerves tense, the World Cup winner’s ability to create chances out of nothing, hold up play, and link midfield with attack will be vital. If Inter are to overcome their recent slump and reignite their title charge, it will almost certainly require a defining performance from their talismanic number 10.

Prediction

Inter Milan 2-2 AS Roma

Expect a fiery encounter full of transitions. AS Roma will look to exploit Inter Milan’s vulnerability in wide areas and the mental fatigue from midweek. The Nerazzurri, though desperate to steady their course, may struggle to shut the door on a confident Roma side.

A high-scoring draw seems a fair outcome given the recent trends. Expect goals, late drama, and perhaps, a temporary shift in the title race dynamics. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 draw between AS Roma and Inter Milan.