Much is at stake at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. But here are five reasons why Inter will return to Milan with the three points.
Inter Milan will be hoping to shrug off a series of poor results when they travel to the Stadio Olimpico to do battle with Roma on Sunday. The Nerazzurri come into the match with the desperation to claim maximum points, as if they fail to manage this their title aspirations could break into pieces.
Here are five reasons why Inter will beat Roma in ascending order.
5. Inter unbeaten against Roma in 2011.
Roma may hold a historical advantage over Inter at the Stadio Olimpico, however, 2011 was Inter's year, as they were unbeaten in all four games between the sides irrespective of the venue. With two wins and two draws and a favourable 7-4 goal difference the Nerazzurri were thoroughly superior when compared to their rivals.
4. Inter beat Roma almost a year to the day.
Whether it will have any real effect on the outcome of the game is unlikely, but nevertheless it remains a statistical fact that Inter obtained a 5-3 victory over Roma on February 6, 2011, almost exactly a year to Sunday's game.
It was a thoroughly entertaining game where Inter gained a 4-1 advantage, before Roma made it 4-3 with a remarkable comeback. However, Esteban Cambiasso sealed Inter the three points with a goal in the final minute.
Considering the fact that Inter found the back of the net four times in their last Serie A outing, perhaps hitting five past Roma once again is not too much to ask from them.
3. Inter have more hunger.
Despite the fact that both teams are desperate to claim the three points, Inter come into the clash with more hunger than the Romans. Inter recently saw their seven-game winning streak come to an abrupt end against lowly Lecce, despite completely dominating their rivals. Then on Wednesday they saw a victory slip out of their hands right at the end against Palermo. After those two frustrating results, Inter will surely get things right against a seemingly vulnerable Roma.
Roma, on the other hand, are practically out of the title race, and even seem too far away to enter the Champions League qualification zone.
2. Claudio Ranieri knows Roma inside out.
Ranieri is attached to Roma in every way, as not only was he born in the Italian capital, and has been a beloved supporter of the club since his childhood, but he commenced his soccer career as a player of the club too, despite it being only briefly.
After having coached no less than ten teams in his managerial career, he finally had the privilege to coach Roma between 2009-11. During this time he dramatically changed the team's fortunes and transformed them into championship material.
Having guided the team to a sensational 23-game unbeaten run it seemed that he would take them all the way, however, they ended up surrendering their lead to eventual champions Inter, who also beat them in the Coppa Italia final.
After a rather successful spell with Roma, Ranieri went on to sign for Inter. There's no question that Ranieri knows all of Roma's deepest secrets. This will surely work to his advantage on Sunday.
1. Diego Milito's prolific form
Fresh off scoring a fabulous quartet of goals against Palermo, Milito holds the key to Inter's success. The Argentine hit-man has conjured up twelve goals in the Serie A this season, and is likely to add to his personal tally against Roma on Sunday. Milito has fond memories of the Stadio Olimpico as it was his goal that helped the Nerazzurri defeat Roma 1-0 in the 2010 Coppa Italia final.
"Yes, that was a fantastic day," he recently recalled to Inter Channel. "I scored and it was the first of three trophies."
While the treble is out of Inter's reach this season, everything seems to indicate that Milito will get on the score-sheet as Inter pick up a much-needed victory at the Stadio Olimpico.
Here are five reasons why Inter will beat Roma in ascending order.
5. Inter unbeaten against Roma in 2011.
Roma may hold a historical advantage over Inter at the Stadio Olimpico, however, 2011 was Inter's year, as they were unbeaten in all four games between the sides irrespective of the venue. With two wins and two draws and a favourable 7-4 goal difference the Nerazzurri were thoroughly superior when compared to their rivals.
4. Inter beat Roma almost a year to the day.
Whether it will have any real effect on the outcome of the game is unlikely, but nevertheless it remains a statistical fact that Inter obtained a 5-3 victory over Roma on February 6, 2011, almost exactly a year to Sunday's game.
It was a thoroughly entertaining game where Inter gained a 4-1 advantage, before Roma made it 4-3 with a remarkable comeback. However, Esteban Cambiasso sealed Inter the three points with a goal in the final minute.
Considering the fact that Inter found the back of the net four times in their last Serie A outing, perhaps hitting five past Roma once again is not too much to ask from them.
3. Inter have more hunger.
Despite the fact that both teams are desperate to claim the three points, Inter come into the clash with more hunger than the Romans. Inter recently saw their seven-game winning streak come to an abrupt end against lowly Lecce, despite completely dominating their rivals. Then on Wednesday they saw a victory slip out of their hands right at the end against Palermo. After those two frustrating results, Inter will surely get things right against a seemingly vulnerable Roma.
Roma, on the other hand, are practically out of the title race, and even seem too far away to enter the Champions League qualification zone.
2. Claudio Ranieri knows Roma inside out.
Ranieri is attached to Roma in every way, as not only was he born in the Italian capital, and has been a beloved supporter of the club since his childhood, but he commenced his soccer career as a player of the club too, despite it being only briefly.
After having coached no less than ten teams in his managerial career, he finally had the privilege to coach Roma between 2009-11. During this time he dramatically changed the team's fortunes and transformed them into championship material.
Having guided the team to a sensational 23-game unbeaten run it seemed that he would take them all the way, however, they ended up surrendering their lead to eventual champions Inter, who also beat them in the Coppa Italia final.
After a rather successful spell with Roma, Ranieri went on to sign for Inter. There's no question that Ranieri knows all of Roma's deepest secrets. This will surely work to his advantage on Sunday.
1. Diego Milito's prolific form
Fresh off scoring a fabulous quartet of goals against Palermo, Milito holds the key to Inter's success. The Argentine hit-man has conjured up twelve goals in the Serie A this season, and is likely to add to his personal tally against Roma on Sunday. Milito has fond memories of the Stadio Olimpico as it was his goal that helped the Nerazzurri defeat Roma 1-0 in the 2010 Coppa Italia final.
"Yes, that was a fantastic day," he recently recalled to Inter Channel. "I scored and it was the first of three trophies."
While the treble is out of Inter's reach this season, everything seems to indicate that Milito will get on the score-sheet as Inter pick up a much-needed victory at the Stadio Olimpico.
