AS Roma host Inter Milan on Saturday, with the game billed as the battle of the best defensive team taking on the best attacking setup in Italy.

The notion of a Gian Piero Gasperini side conceding the fewest goals in Serie A may have been unheard of before, considering the experienced manager is revered for coaching sides to score plenty of goals. Since arriving at AS Roma in the summer, the former Atalanta boss has managed to form the best defensive unit in Serie A, with his team only conceding twice so far this season in the league ahead of the game against Inter Milan.

The second of those strikes came away at Fiorentina as Italian international Moise Kean found the net and gave the Viola the lead. However, goals from Matias Soule and Bryan Cristante secured the three points for Roma and took them level on points with league leaders Napoli.

The big question around Gasperini is related to Roma’s recent history as well as the veteran coach’s tenure with Atalanta. Both those teams have failed to mount a concerted challenge for the title in many years, although the early promise at the Stadio Olimpico could see Roma probably name themselves as contenders, but for that to happen, they must defeat teams like Inter Milan.

With the upcoming clash in the Italian capital billed as the best defence facing the best attacking side in the league, Cristian Chivu’s side have scored 17 times this season in Serie A, winning their last three games on the bounce heading to the clash with AS Roma.

Counting their wins in the UEFA Champions League, Inter Milan have gone on a five-game winning run across all competitions since their entertaining loss to Juventus. However, the Nerazzurri are viewed as serious contenders even though there are questions about their defensive performances this season.

Chiivu’s side also boasts a good enough record against Roma for many years, as they have not lost at the Stadio Olimpico since 2016. With a victory over Gasperini’s men, Inter Milan can leapfrog the second-placed side, and that will be their objective heading into the weekend.

Team News & Tactics

AS Roma

Gian Piero Gasperini will not have any worries over his defensive setup, but he must tinker well with his attack to get the attackers flowing through games. Hence, he will be glad to have Leon Bailey in contention for this one, which is the first time the Jamaican international is available following his loan move from Aston Villa in the summer.

Angelino is also pencilled in for a return to the matchday squad following a spell on the sidelines, but three others are missing out. Anass Salah-Eddine, Edoardo Bove, and Lorenzo Pellegrini are all out of contention for this big clash at the weekend.

Gasperini will continue with a back three of Evan Ndicka, Gianluca Mancini and Zeki Celik. Wesley and Kostas Tsimikas are the preferred options in the wing-back roles. Tommaso Baldanzi, Bryan Cristante and Manu Kone are the preferred personnel in central midfield, while Soule will continue to partner with Artem Dovbyk in the attacking setup.

Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Svilar; Ndicka, Mancini, Celik; Wesley, Baldanzi, Cristante, Kone, Tsimikas; Soule, Dovbyk

Inter Milan

Cristian Chivu has his share of injury issues as key striker Marcus Thuram continues to struggle with a hamstring problem, while Matteo Darmian is also on the sidelines with a calf injury.

The manager does have options in the form of Ange-Yoan Bonny, after his performance against Cremonese, as well as Francesco Pio Esposito, who recorded his first Serie A strike as well as for the Italian national side recently.

Given the recent performances, the former is likely to get the nod to start alongside Lautaro Martinez, with the latter an option off the bench for Inter Milan on Saturday.

Hakan Calhanoglu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will play alongside Nicolo Barella in the midfield setup, while the back three of Manuel Akanji, Francesco Acerbi, and Alessandro Bastoni will keep their spots in the lineup.

Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Akanji, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Bonny, Martinez

Key Stats

• AS Roma are undefeated in 26 of their last 28 matches in Serie A.
• AS Roma have not defeated Inter Milan at the Stadio Olimpico since 2016.
• Inter Milan have won their last four away matches against Roma in all competitions.
• Inter Milan have won their last five games across all competitions.

Player to Watch

Matias Soule

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AS Roma have lacked stars over the years that could help them get things over the line, and Soule might be that player for the present and future. The player was in the news of late following his comments about the Italian national team calling him multiple times to play for them, but the attacker seemingly has his heart set on featuring for Argentina.

For the performances he has put up this season, the debut for the world champions may not be too far away. Soule has four goal contributions in his last three Serie A games, and is the player to watch in this game against Inter Milan, as the attacker has the elements to be the game-changer in this one for AS Roma.

Prediction

Roma 2-1 Inter Milan

As mentioned earlier, this is a clash between the best defence and the most lethal attack in Serie A this season. Given the home advantage that AS Roma have, Inter Milan may find it tough going against their rivals in this one, despite their good enough recent record against Gian Piero Gasperini’s men.

Roma will likely make full use of the home settings in this clash, as they will want to showcase their ambition in the title race by winning against a big rival and title contender. Hence, with the focus on this game being at Stadio Olimpico, Roma are expected to narrowly nick three points against Inter Milan and at least retain their current spot in the Serie A standings.