The Italian top-flight returns to action after the winter break and we'll have a cracking match in Milan on Sunday as third-placed Inter take on fifth-placed Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. Inter grabbed an impressive victory in the reverse fixture in August, it ended 3-1 at the Olympic Stadium and striker Mauro Icardi scored a double. Last season Roma won 3-1 in Milan and 2-1 in the Italian capital, but overall Inter have won three of the last six direct matches while Roma grabbed just those two wins.
After a great start to the season, Inter ended 2017 in deep crisis with five matches without a victory in Serie A. Last time out they grabbed a 1-1 draw at Fiorentina on January 5, a painful result for Inter as they conceded the equalizer during stoppage time. Now they are nine points behind leaders Juventus, so still in with a slight chance to win the title but they have to get back to winning ways very soon. Danilo D'Ambrosio is the only injury concern for the home side as Miranda has recovered during the winter break.
Roma didn't have the best of seasons so far, they have been struggling since the start of the campaign but even so they are fifth in the Serie A table and fourth-placed Lazio are just one point ahead. They have lost two of their last three league matches, at Juventus and at home to Atalanta, and have not won since a 1-0 triumph over Cagliari on December 16. Rick Karsdrop is injured and won't be able to play on Sunday, while Radja Nainggolan and Emerson Palmieri are linked with moves away from the club in the January transfer window.
Probable line-ups:
Inter: Handanovic - Cancelo, Skriniar, Miranda, Santon - Gagliardini, Vecino - Candreva, Valero, Perisic - Icardi
Roma: Alisson - Florenzi, Fazio, Manolas, Kolarov - Strootman, De Rossi, Nainggolan - Perotti, Dzeko, El Shaarawy
My prediction: 1-1 draw.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Inter win - 2.39
Draw - 3.50
Roma win - 2.89
01/24/18, 07:01:01 PM
