Serie A: Roma Out to End Home Misery

AS Roma vs Inter Milan

I’ve not put Roma down as ready for a Serie A title tilt this term and I would imagine few, if any, pundits did on the eve of the 2025-26 campaign either.

Yet the arrival of the man who did so much at Atalanta, Gian Piero Gasperini, would certainly have caught the eye and, should they boost their early-season form at the Stadio Olimpico this weekend, perhaps talk of potential title credentials will hot up.

By contrast, the best team in Italy over the past five years have been Inter Milan. The Rossonieri have not always finished top of the pile in that time but, consistently, they have emerged as the team to beat.

That tag was lost in May when, eight days after being pipped to the Serie A crown, they were destroyed in the final of the Champions League, swiftly followed by bidding a thanks and farewell to successful manager Simone Inzaghi.

They seem vulnerable this term and that could give Roma renewed optimism going into an encounter they have not won for nine years.

 

Talking Points

The Giallorossi beat Fiorentina before the international break to make it three Serie A wins on the bounce. Goals from Argentina’s Matias Soule and Bryan Cristante helped clinch a 2-1 victory in Florence, as well as more early-season Serie A 2025 highlights for the men from the capital.

As it stands, Gasperini’s side are second in the standings, level on 15 points with reigning champions Napoli who have a slightly better goal difference.

After the opening six games, a defeat to Torino is their only blemish so far.

Now his charges head into Saturday’s clash knowing it will be their biggest test of the season but they can take confidence in the fact they ran out 1-0 winners in the last league meeting at the San Siro in April, a result which caused damage to Inter’s title defence.

More vulnerable they may appear, but the Rossoneri appear to be getting into their stride after a wobbly start. A surprise 2-1 home defeat to Udinese and a dramatic 4-3 Derby d’Italia loss to Juventus cast doubts over Cristian Chivu’s tenure.

The Romanian rejoined the club where he was a player and later youth coach in the summer, fresh from a four-month spell in Serie A with Parma, whom he guided to safety in the final weekend of last season.

More recently, however, he has overseen five wins on the bounce in all competitions and has seen his side concede just twice in that run and he will be looking forward to pitting his wits against Gasperini.

Last time out for Inter, Lautaro Martinez, Ange-Yoan Bonny, Federico Dimarco and Nicolo Barella netted in the 4-1 trouncing against Cremonese.

It’s a mixed bag of news for both teams this weekend.

Loan signing Leon Bailey could be in contention after suffering a muscle problem during his first training session back in August, but Angelino is definitely missing for the hosts.

Inter, meanwhile, will have to make do without Marcus Thuram. The French forward will likely be replaced by compatriot Bonny who shone in the victory against Cremonese before the international break. 

Matteo Darmian will undergo a late assessment to determine his potential inclusion in the roster with Argentine marksman Martinez leading the line.

 

History

Since their very first meeting in the 1929/30 season, these teams have met in the Italian top flight, the Coppa Italia, the former UEFA Cup and the Supercoppa.

Overall, Inter have triumphed 94 times, while there have been 60 Roma successes and 57 draws.

Only once in the decade after 2009 did Inter win in the Stadio Olimpico. They have now won their last four visits there.

That included last term when Martinez scored the only goal of the contest exactly a year ago this weekend.

Roma gained revenge in April when Soule’s first-half strike proved decisive.

You have to go back to October 2016 for the last time Roma defeated Inter on home soil

Then, an own goal won the day after Edin Dzeko and Ever Banega had traded goals.

 

Betting Tip

Inter are slight favourites with the SBOTOP Serie A 2025 betting odds but it’s mighty close.

1X2 odds back Roma @ 2.95 and Inter @ 2.29. Asian Handicap odds are also evenly matched and include Roma +0.25 @ 1.92 and 0.00 @ 2.36, compared to Inter -0.50 @ 2.29.

A re-run of last season’s game in the Italian capital – a 1-0 Inter triumph – will pay out @ 6.80 with Correct Score, while goal options range from Total Goal 0-1 @ 2.81, 2-3 @ 1.97 and 4-6 @ 3.73 to over 2.50 @ 2.12.

I was tempted by Correct Score 1-1 @ 5.90 but my ** tip is 1X2 Draw @ 3.09.

   

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