AS Roma vs Inter Predicted Lineups: Team News and Match Insights

Top spot in Serie A is on the line at Stadio Olimpico as league leaders AS Roma host second-placed Inter in Round 5 of the 2026 season. Both sides come into this clash with a perfect record: Roma have 4 wins from 4 with a goal difference of +11, while Inter also boast 4 wins from 4 and a goal difference of +7. With only goal difference separating them (both on 12 points), this is an early-season six-pointer with genuine title implications.

Roma’s league form string of “WWWW” underlines their flawless start, built on a tight defence (just 1 goal conceded) and a sharp attack (12 scored). Inter mirror that “WWWW” form with a more open profile: 13 goals scored but 6 conceded. Recent head-to-head meetings have tilted strongly towards Inter, but Roma’s current momentum and home record (2 wins from 2, 6 scored, 1 conceded) set up a finely balanced contest. With no official team sheets yet, this preview focuses on analytically driven predicted lineups and the most likely starting lineup choices for both clubs.

Stats suggest a near coin-flip on paper, and that makes the predicted lineups and selection calls especially important. The way both managers set up – and which key attackers and creators make the XI – will go a long way to deciding whether Roma can defend top spot or Inter can leapfrog them at the Olimpico.

AS Roma Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Roma arrive in outstanding form but with a couple of notable absences. Midfielder M. Bah is ruled out with a knee injury, while defender E. Ndicka misses out through illness. Both are listed as missing this specific fixture, so they are not expected to feature in the starting lineup or on the bench. Even so, Roma’s squad depth, particularly in defence and attack, has allowed them to maintain a perfect defensive and attacking record so far.

Based on their early-season trends and league lineup data, Roma have alternated between shapes built around a back three, but they consistently present a compact defensive block and a fluid front line. With “WWWW” league form and just one goal conceded, an organised, possession-based approach with quick transitions towards their in-form forwards is expected. The focus will be on getting the best out of top scorer D. Malen and chief creator P. Dybala, with M. Soulé offering an additional threat between the lines.

AS Roma Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: M. Svilar
DF: Hermoso, G. Mancini, L. Balerdi, D. Rensch
MF: B. Cristante, M. Koné, L. Pellegrini, N. Molina
FW: P. Dybala, D. Malen, M. Soulé

This predicted lineup leans heavily on Roma’s most influential early-season performers. In attack, D. Malen has been one of the standout players in Serie A so far: 6 goals in 4 appearances, averaging 3 shots on target every game, with a strong overall rating of 8.1. He is the natural focal point of the expected front line. Around him, P. Dybala has emerged as the league’s leading creator, with 4 assists in 4 games, 17 key passes and 192 total passes at 83% accuracy. His ability to drift between lines and feed Malen makes him central to Roma’s attacking blueprint.

M. Soulé is both a top scorer and top assist contributor for Roma, with 2 goals and 1 assist from 4 appearances and an impressive 7.43 rating. His 11 shots (7 on target) and 8 dribble attempts (5 successful) underline why he is expected to complete a very dangerous attacking trio. Behind them, B. Cristante and M. Koné provide balance and ball-winning, while L. Pellegrini offers additional creativity from midfield. At the back, Hermoso is a key figure: he appears among the league leaders for cards but also contributes a goal, 10 tackles, 16 interceptions and 270 passes at 87% accuracy. Alongside Mancini, Balerdi and the versatile D. Rensch, Roma are set up for a disciplined but proactive defensive unit in front of M. Svilar, who is the senior goalkeeper in the squad and the logical choice for this high-stakes fixture.

Inter Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Inter travel to Rome with a perfect record but a more complicated medical report. H. Çalhanoğlu is ruled out with a muscle injury, while defender D. Spence is also listed as missing through injury. In addition, F. Stante and J. Stones are both flagged as questionable with injuries for this fixture. With those four players either out or doubtful, the visitors will likely lean heavily on their core of fit senior defenders and midfielders. Despite those issues, Inter’s “WWWW” league form and 13 goals scored suggest they will still field a very strong lineup today.

Their typical approach this season has been an attacking-minded shape built around a three-man back line and a busy midfield, with a strong emphasis on wing-backs and multiple forwards. The absence of Çalhanoğlu removes a key set-piece and long-range shooting threat, but Inter’s creativity has been spread around: A. Diouf is among the league’s top assist providers, while forwards like F. Esposito, M. Thuram and Lautaro Martínez have all contributed goals. Expect Inter’s lineups today to prioritise continuity in defence and an aggressive, multi-pronged attack designed to stretch Roma’s back line.

Inter Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: Josep Martínez
DF: M. Akanji, A. Bastoni, B. Pavard, F. Dimarco
MF: N. Barella, A. Diouf, P. Zieliński, Carlos Augusto
FW: Lautaro Martínez, F. Esposito, M. Thuram

Inter’s predicted starting lineup is built around their proven back three and high-quality forward line. At the back, a defensive unit of M. Akanji, A. Bastoni, B. Pavard and F. Dimarco offers a blend of physicality, ball progression and width. With D. Spence and J. Stones both unavailable or doubtful, these fit defenders are the logical core of the starting XI. In midfield, N. Barella and P. Zieliński provide experience, work rate and passing range, while A. Diouf has been one of Serie A’s standout creators so far, with 3 assists in 3 appearances, 13 key passes and 91% pass accuracy. His ability to break lines with forward passes will be crucial in feeding the front three.

Up front, the numbers make a compelling case for a powerful attacking trio. F. Esposito has 2 goals and 1 assist from 4 starts, with 9 shots (5 on target) and a 7.15 rating, while M. Thuram matches that output with 2 goals and 1 assist in just 140 minutes, plus an excellent 7.57 rating. Lautaro Martínez, meanwhile, brings both goals (2 scored) and relentless work rate; he appears in both the top yellow and top red card lists, underlining his combative style and willingness to press. Together, these three give Inter pace, movement and finishing ability, and they are expected to rotate positions and attack the channels between Roma’s defenders.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

Absences could subtly tilt the balance of this match. Roma lose some depth in midfield and defence, while Inter are without a key playmaker and a defensive option, and also have two players listed as questionable. In a game between two perfect records, even marginal changes in personnel can shift the tactical dynamics and in-game options from the bench.

AS Roma Absences:

• M. Bah — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)
• E. Ndicka — Illness (Missing Fixture)

Inter Absences:

• H. Çalhanoğlu — Muscle Injury (Missing Fixture)
• D. Spence — Injury (Missing Fixture)
• F. Stante — Injury (Questionable)
• J. Stones — Injury (Questionable)

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

The predicted lineups set up a fascinating tactical duel between Roma’s balanced, high-efficiency structure and Inter’s more expansive attacking profile. Roma have scored 12 and conceded just 1 in 4 league games, with a defensive record that includes 3 clean sheets across home and away fixtures. Their goals are spread throughout the match, but they are particularly dangerous late on, with 4 of their 12 goals coming between minutes 76 and 90. That suggests a side capable of sustaining pressure and punishing tiring opponents – a key factor if the game is still level in the final quarter.

Inter, by contrast, have scored 13 and conceded 6, reflecting a more open game model. They are especially potent just after half-time, with 4 goals in the 46–60 minute window, and remain dangerous throughout the second half. The predicted front line of Lautaro Martínez, F. Esposito and M. Thuram will look to test Roma’s back line with aggressive runs and combination play, while A. Diouf’s creative passing from midfield could exploit any gaps if Roma push their wing-backs high. On the other side, Roma’s trio of D. Malen, P. Dybala and M. Soulé will target Inter’s defensive transitions, particularly in the channels around F. Dimarco and the wide centre-backs. Hermoso’s presence as both a defensive leader and a threat on set pieces adds another layer to Roma’s game plan.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Market and statistical models see this as an extremely tight encounter. The prediction model gives Roma just a 10% chance to win, with a 45% probability of a draw and a 45% probability of an Inter victory, and labels Inter as the side favoured on a “win or draw” basis. The overall comparison index is close – 47.0 vs 53.0 in Inter’s favour – while the Poisson index leans heavily towards Inter at 0 vs 100, underlining their attacking volume and chance creation.

Pre-match odds also reflect the balance: home win prices for Roma range from 2.34 to 2.77 (implied probability roughly 36–43%), while Inter’s away odds sit between 2.50 and 2.72 (around 37–40%). Draw odds cluster between 3.10 and 3.50 (approximately 29–32%). With both teams on perfect “WWWW” league form, a share of the points is a realistic outcome, but Inter’s recent head-to-head dominance and slightly stronger attacking indices suggest they are marginally more likely to avoid defeat than Roma are to win.

Predicted Outcome: AS Roma 1–1 Inter

How to Watch AS Roma vs Inter Worldwide

Here is how you can watch the match and see the official lineups today live:

• Spain: Local pay-TV sports channel or major streaming platform carrying Serie A
• UK: Leading sports broadcaster with Serie A rights or associated streaming service
• USA / North America: Regional sports network or national streaming platform showing Serie A
• South America: Major cable sports network or digital platform with Italian football coverage
• MENA: Regional satellite sports network or official Serie A streaming partner