Romans To Conquer Milan

Roma take on Inter on Saturday evening at the San Siro with the visitors now in a real fight to earn a Champions League spot while an awful season can’t end soon enough for the hosts.

Form

A dour scoreless draw in last Sunday’s Milan derby meant it’s now just one win in the last nine games for the Nerazzurri who find themselves in the no-man’s land of tenth place and playing out the season without the opportunity of a European place or relegation to battle against.

It was, however a first clean sheet in those nine games for Roberto Mancini’s side although the former Manchester City boss is likely to be making plans for a huge summer clearout of a bloated squad that has the worst home record of any of the top 12 sides in Serie A, despite only three teams in the division scoring more on their own patch.

With 16 league goals Mauro Icardi is the club’s top scorer this term, and is still in the reckoning to be Italy’s top marksman this season as he trails Carlos Tevez by two, although the Inter striker has now scored just once in his last six appearances.

Roma lie in third place in the Italian top flight, despite a run of only three wins in their last 13 games. The Giallorossi have also become draw specialists having finished on level terms with opponents in 13 of their last 20 games in all competitions, including successive 1-1 draws against Torino and Atalanta in their last two outings.

After looking like the only side capable of challenging Juve for the Scudetto this term Rudi Garcia’s side are now 15 points adrift of the reigning and soon to be new champions and have also been overtaken by bitter rivals Lazio on goal difference, with Napoli a further five points behind. Only Juventus have picked up more points on the road this season, however.

Finding a regular goalscorer looks to the club’s priority this summer as Adem Ljajic leads the club’s scoring charts with eight even though the Serb has failed to register in his last ten.

Team News
Mancini is likely to be without as many as four defensive options with Hugo Campagnaro, Davide Santon, Dodo and Jonathan Moreira all major doubts although Zdravko Kuzmanovic is expected to be available once more.

Roma have huge injury problems ahead of the game with Gervinho, Maicon, Kevin Strootman and Leandro Castan all out with further doubts over Alessandro Florenzi, Miralem Pjanic, Daniele de Rossi and Seydou Keita to leave Garcia facing a selection dilemma.

Head to Head

Roma ran out 4-2 winners in the reverse fixture in the Italian capital earlier this season, with Pjanic getting on the scoresheet twice for their sixth win in the last eight clashes with Inter.

The Milan club have now failed to beat Roma in ten games overall.

Recommended Bets

An Inter side who’ve looked disinterested all season now have absolutely nothing to play for so it’s hard to see much worth in the 13/10 on a home win here, and although there might be some value in Roma at 9/4 recent results don’t inspire much confidence.

Each of Roma’s last six games and a remarkable 15 of their last 18 have featured less than 2.5 goals so unders has to be backed here at 8/11 with the Evens on both teams not scoring also worth investment, while a Roma win and under 2.5 goals looks worth a small play at 5/1 odds.