When Roma travel north to Inter’s Stadio Giuseppe Meazza this week it will undoubtedly be the most important game of the season. With the Giallorossi representing the only threat left to the hosts’ march towards the Scudetto, anything other than an away win would practically hand Inter the championship already.
The Nerazzurri will be full of confidence, going into this match on the back of a record breaking streak of 14 consecutive victories. They are also yet to lose a single game this season and, even though every run must come to an end sooner or later, if it doesn’t come this week the fans will consider the Scudetto already in the bag. However, the Beneamati will need to be wary of complacency as this will be their toughest encounter of the season, regardless of the 11-point lead they have opened up in recent weeks.
Alvaro Recoba and Marco Andreolli will both miss this crucial tie through injury, but in their current role as squad players their absence will not be worrying Roberto Mancini too much. The suspension of Nicolas Burdisso will mean that there will be some reshuffling at the back, as the Argentine defender had forced his way into the first team with some spectacular performances this term. That means Ivan Cordoba should make his first start since November, even if that is likely to be the only change from the team that defeated Sampdoria 2-0 last week.
The timing of this match will be a concern for Roma boss Luciano Spalletti as his side has looked a little out of sorts recently. The capital club could only limp to draws against Messina and Livorno, who are both struggling themselves at the moment, before finding their feet again this week with a 1-0 win over Siena. However, that slip has reminded everyone that the Giallorossi are nowhere near as comfortable when they leave the safe surroundings of the Stadio Olimpico and they will need to improve on their away form if they are to leave the San Siro with three points.
The only player who will definitely miss this crucial fixture is on loan defender Rodrigo Defendi, but there are concerns over a number of players. Alberto Aquilani and Gilberto Martinez could feature, although both are still struggling for fitness having only recently returned to training after injury. The main worry though, will be the knocks picked up by Daniele De Rossi, Philippe Mexes and Christian Wilhelmsson in training this week. All three have question marks next to their names on Spalletti’s teamsheet and are being closely monitored by the Giallorossi medical staff in the run up to the match.
Man on fire: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter) – The Swede is back to his best this season and has scored in each of the Nerazzurri’s last three matches. It is not hard to see why Ibra is already being tipped for the 2007 Golden Ball.
Last season: Inter 2-3 Roma
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Inter (probable): Julio Cesar; Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi, Maxwell; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Vieira, Stankovic; Ibrahimovic, Adriano
Roma (probable): Doni; Panucci, Mexes, Chivu, Tonetto; De Rossi, Pizarro; Taddei, Perrotta, Mancini; Totti
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