AS Roma vs. Inter Milan Stadio Olimpico, Rome Italy 12 PM EST Saturday March 26, 2010
by Jason Green at Predictem.com
Match Odds: AS Roma 2.60 / Inter Milan 2.60 / Draw 3.20
Over/Under: 2.5 goals
Moneyline: AS Roma +160 / Inter Milan +160 / Draw +220
In a very important Serie A match on Saturday night in the Italian capital AS Roma hosts Inter Milan. Inter Milan is in 1st place in Serie A, but they only lead AC Milan and AS Roma by 4 points. If Roma can win this game there is a chance they can capture the Scudetto, but a draw or loss may kill those chances.
AS Roma started the season badly, but under coach Claudio Ranieri they have played great and will, at least, qualify for European play next season.
Inter will have a tough time winning this match, as Roma has won 12 of 15 matches at home this season and they have won their last 2 matches.
This season unlike the last few for Inter, as they are playing great in the Champions League, but are in jeopardy of losing the title in their domestic league. Inter had not been playing well in Serie A, but stopped the bleeding with a 3-0 defeat of Livorno in Milan in the middle of the week. If Inter can win or draw in this match and AC Milan draws or loses to Lazio at home on Sunday then Inter will be in the driver’s season for their 5th straight Serie A crown.
Both teams are coming off solid wins in their last matches and each has a lot of pressure, especially Inter, as they are the away team.
This season Inter Milan has scored 56 goals and given up 27 and AS Roma has scored 54 goals and has given up 34 goals.
AS Roma Recent Form:
3/24/2010 Bologna 0 AS Roma 3 (Serie A)
3.20/2010 AS Roma 4 Udinese 2 (Serie A)
3/14/2010 AS Roma 3 Livorno 3 (Serie A)
3/6/2010 AC Milan 0 AS Roma 0 (Serie A)
2/28/2010 Naples 2 AS Roma 2 (Serie A)
Inter Milan Recent Form:
Inter Milan 3 Livorno 0 (Serie A)
3/20/2010 Palermo 1 Inter Milan 1 (Serie A)
3/16/2010 Chelsea 0 Inter Milan 1 (Champions League)
3/12/2010 Catania 3 Inter Milan 1 (Serie A)
3/7/2010 Inter Milan 0 Genoa 0 (Serie A)
Things are looking good for AS Roma in this match, as they are relatively match healthy and are not reporting any significant injuries AND Francesco Totti is back and ready to play in this match. However, Totti will likely start on the bench, but will see action if Roma needs an offensive spark.
Defender Davide Santon will be looked at before the match to see if he can play for Inter. Wesley Sneijder, Maicon, and Lucio are all a little banged up nursing injuries, but each is available for this match.
Roma’s Daniele De Rossi will have to have a good game in the midfield not only helping out on offense, but also dropping back on defense when Inter attacks.
One of the main worries for the AS Roma defense is Samuel Eto’o. He has had an up and down season, but was stellar in Inter’s match against Livorno scoring twice and I think he continue his solid play and find the back of the net in this match.
Inter G Julio Csar had one slip in giving up 3 goals in an away match at Catania a couple of weeks ago, but besides that he has only been scored once in his last 4 matches with 3 clean sheets. I do not think that he will keep a clean sheet in this match, but he will not give up more than one goal.
Inter Milan has an Over/Under of 2.5 goals in 6 of their last 10 games while AS Roma has an Over/Under of 2.5 goals in 4 of their last 10 matches.
Jason’s Pick: Inter has really come through in their big matches this season, especially in the Champions League, and I think they will do so in this match. They got some good news by drawing CSKA Moscow in the quarterfinals of the Champions League and they will create their own good news by beating a streaking Roma team at home this Sunday night. I see Inter winning a close game by a score of 2-1 or 3-1.