Roma vs. Inter Milan – prediction, team news, lineups. Inter Milan will want to retain their run against the Giallorossi in Saturday’s matchup in the capital after a six-goal victory lifted them ahead of top-four rivals Roma in midweek.
While their hosts have grabbed one point from the previous nine opportunities to fall behind in their chase of a berth within Italy’s top four, Inter has won each of their last four games to rebound from a dismal run in Serie A and claim a spot in the Champions League semi-finals.
Roma has lost three straight league games for the first time since 2023, and after Wednesday’s stalemate at mid-table Monza, they face a real chance of missing their much-anticipated Champions League comeback.
Roma vs. Inter Milan – prediction, team news, lineups
When Jose Mourinho’s team failed to hold onto a lead earned by Stephan El Shaarawy’s opening goal, several teams around them in the standings duly capitalized. Jose Mourinho’s team had already dropped points in their previous two games—a 3-1 loss to Atalanta followed by a 1-1 home draw with AC Milan last weekend.
With five games remaining, the Lombardy three of Milan, Atalanta, and Inter are all above or tied with Roma, so they will be especially eager to defeat the latter in the Stadio Olimpico this weekend.
The first leg of the Europa League semi-final between Mourinho’s present team and Bayer Leverkusen will be played at the Olimpico next Thursday. However, he will be keenly aware that the scenario in Serie A is quickly turning into a make-or-break situation.
The two Calcio powers have split their victories since Inter won 3-0 the last time they faced off in Rome, with Roma triumphing in the rematch at San Siro in October.
The capital club will now try to do the double over their Milanese visitors and overtake them in the table even though they have lost six of their previous ten away games in all competitions. This is because they are a lot more fearsome opponent in the Eternal City.
Inter gave their chances of finishing in the top four another boost on Wednesday night when they traveled to relegation-threatened Hellas Verona. A late comeback secured Inter’s third straight victory last weekend.
The Nerazzurri completed an outstanding seven days by thrashing their opponents 6-0 at Stadio Bentegodi, with all six goals coming during the game’s last hour. They had previously defeated old rivals Juventus to go to the Coppa Italia final and then staged a determined comeback against Lazio.
Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez, a forward duo, both scored a brace to lessen the burden on Simone Inzaghi, whose team has now suffered 11 league losses this season despite dominating the cups.
With five games left, Inter, who are back inside the top four of Serie A, cannot afford to make a mistake on Saturday or one of their competitors for a spot in the Champions League for next season will gain an advantage.
Like Mourinho, Inzaghi may also be excused for being distracted by the gleam of additional hardware as the first leg of their match against Milan in this year’s semifinals awaits next week, but with his squad regaining its rhythm, he may sense it is now their chance to strike.
Zeki Celik was given a red card by referee Daniele Chiffi in the 96th minute of Roma’s draw against Monza, which resulted in a suspension for the Turkish wing-back. As Nemanja Matic returns from suspension, Roma’s injury list stubbornly refuses to get any shorter.
Jose Mourinho, who will also be without Chris Smalling, Georginio Wijnaldum, and possibly Paulo Dybala, as well as recent injury victims Marash Kumbulla (ACL), Andrea Belotti (ribs), and Stephan El Shaarawy (hip), blasted that choice.
If the latter passes a last-minute fitness test, he might be able to join the rest of the team on the bench, but Ola Solbakken should still team up with captain Lorenzo Pellegrini to support Tammy Abraham up forward, with Matic moving into the middle.
Despite Edin Dzeko’s heroics in midweek, Inter may elect to recall Romelu Lukaku and Joaquin Correa because the Bosnian is unlikely to start two games on a row before next week’s Derby della Madonnina.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is expected to sit out against his former team because Hakan Calhanoglu, who scored a stunning goal at the Bentegodi, should start in midfield. Nicolo Barella and first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana will both play after being rested on Wednesday.
The trip south was missed by Milan Skriniar, Danilo D’Ambrosio, and Robin Gosens due to injuries. Last weekend, Robin Gosens dislocated his shoulder, putting him out of commission for at least two more weeks.
Patricio, Mancini, Cristante, Ibanez, Zalewski, Matic, Bove, Spinazzola, Pellegrini, Solbakken, and Abraham might be Roma’s starting lineup.
Onana, Darmian, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Dimarco; Correa, Lukaku are likely starters for Inter Milan.
