AS Roma vs Inter Predicted Lineups: Team News Ahead of Serie A Clash

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 regular season. Both sides arrive perfect after four games: Roma sit 1st with 12 points and a +11 goal difference (12 scored, 1 conceded), while Inter are 2nd, also on 12 points, with a +7 goal difference (13 scored, 6 conceded). With identical league form strings of “WWWW”, this is an early-season six-pointer between two of the division’s form teams.

Roma have been ruthless at home, winning both matches at Stadio Olimpico with a combined score of 6–1, and conceding just once in the league overall. Inter, meanwhile, have been explosive in attack, averaging 3.3 goals per game, including 12 goals in three home fixtures and a solid 1–0 away win. With such strong records on both sides, predicted lineups and the final starting lineup choices will be decisive in a fixture where small details often decide the outcome.

Recent head-to-head history has tilted towards Inter, who have taken most of the big clashes in recent years, including a 5–2 win at San Siro in April 2026 and a 1–0 success at Olimpico in October 2025. Roma did manage a 1–0 away victory in April 2025, showing they can hurt Inter when their game plan clicks. With both teams flying and key attacking stars in form, this match is set up as one of the standout fixtures of the Serie A weekend.

AS Roma Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Roma’s squad is in strong shape overall but they do have two confirmed absentees. Midfielder M. Bah and defender E. Ndicka are both ruled out as “Missing Fixture”, with Bah sidelined by a knee injury and Ndicka out through illness. That slightly reduces depth in midfield and at the back but does not directly affect the core of the first-choice eleven, given Roma’s current rotation pattern.

With four wins from four, a 12–1 aggregate and three clean sheets, Roma’s league form is immaculate. Their attacking production is spread but heavily driven by D. Malen, the current top scorer in Serie A with 6 goals, and creative leader P. Dybala, who tops the assists chart with 4. The expected tactical approach is an aggressive, front-foot style with a compact defensive block behind, using quick transitions and late surges in the final quarter of matches, where Roma have scored a high proportion of their goals. The predicted lineups today will likely keep the spine that has delivered such a strong start.

AS Roma Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

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

This predicted starting lineup leans heavily on Roma’s most productive and experienced core. At the back, Hermoso is a lock: he has started all four league matches, combining defensive solidity with one goal and ranking among the league leaders for cards, underlining his aggressive style. Partnered by G. Mancini and L. Balerdi, Roma can maintain a physically dominant and aerially strong back line in front of M. Svilar, who is favoured over fellow goalkeepers G. De Marzi and P. Gollini due to his age profile and status as the most established option in this group.

In midfield, B. Cristante and M. de Roon give Roma a double layer of ball-winning and positional discipline, crucial against Inter’s powerful central unit. L. Pellegrini adds forward runs and passing range, while N. Molina offers width and work rate from a wide or wing-back zone. Higher up, the numbers are clear: D. Malen is the focal point, with 6 goals from 4 appearances, 14 shots and 9 on target, plus strong duel and dribble metrics. Around him, P. Dybala orchestrates, having created 17 key passes and 4 assists already, while M. Soulé brings a direct threat with 2 goals and 1 assist, plus 11 shots and 8 on target. Together, this front three gives Roma a blend of creativity, verticality and finishing that has powered their perfect start.

Inter Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Inter have a more complex squad situation. Key midfielder H. Çalhanoğlu is ruled out as “Missing Fixture” with a muscle injury, while defender D. Spence is also unavailable due to injury. In addition, F. Stante and J. Stones are both listed as “Questionable” with injuries. That means Simone Inzaghi (or the current Inter coach) must adjust his midfield structure without his primary deep playmaker and manage defensive depth carefully when planning lineups today.

Despite these concerns, Inter’s league form is flawless: four wins from four, 13 goals scored and 6 conceded. They have been particularly devastating in the second half of matches, with a strong scoring peak between minutes 46 and 60. A. Diouf has emerged as a creative hub with 3 assists from midfield, while F. Esposito and M. Thuram have both contributed 2 goals and 1 assist apiece. Lautaro Martínez, with 2 goals and a combative presence, remains a central figure. Inter’s expected approach is an attacking-minded shape, consistent with their regular 3-5-2 usage this season, pressing high and using their front line’s movement to disrupt Roma’s back three.

Inter Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

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

Inter have consistently lined up in a three-at-the-back structure in the league, and this predicted starting lineup reflects that continuity. Josep Martínez is the logical choice in goal from a strong trio that also includes R. Di Gennaro and I. Provedel, with Martínez combining age, experience and a first-choice profile. In defence, A. Bastoni, M. Akanji and B. Pavard form a high-quality back three, all comfortable stepping into midfield and defending large spaces, which is essential against Malen’s runs in behind and Dybala’s between-the-lines positioning.

In midfield, the absence of Çalhanoğlu pushes more creative responsibility onto N. Barella and P. Zieliński, while A. Diouf is a key inclusion: he has 3 assists in just 3 appearances, with 13 key passes and a 91% pass accuracy, underlining his value as a progressive passer and chance creator. F. Dimarco and Carlos Augusto provide width and crossing from the flanks, stretching Roma’s defensive block. Up front, Lautaro Martínez is almost certain to start, with 2 goals and his usual intensity, while F. Esposito’s 2 goals and 1 assist, plus strong duel numbers, justify his place alongside Lautaro ahead of other options. M. Thuram is a high-impact alternative, but given Esposito’s 4 starts and 290 minutes, he edges the predicted XI.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

Absences are unlikely to decimate either side, but they do subtly shift the tactical balance. Roma lose some depth and flexibility in midfield and defence, while Inter are without a key playmaker and an attacking full-back option, and may have to manage fitness concerns in defence carefully if their questionable players are not fully ready.

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

This clash sets up as a battle between Roma’s balanced, defensively robust structure and Inter’s more expansive, high-tempo attacking game. Roma have conceded just once in four league matches, with an outstanding defensive index and three clean sheets, anchored by Hermoso’s leadership and reading of the game. Their attack is efficient rather than chaotic: Malen’s pace and finishing, combined with Dybala’s creativity and Soulé’s directness, allow Roma to create quality chances without overcommitting numbers forward. They are particularly dangerous late in games, with a significant share of their goals arriving between minutes 76 and 90, suggesting superior fitness and game management.

Inter, by contrast, have a more open profile: 13 goals scored but 6 conceded, with a defense index that lags behind Roma’s. Their 3-5-2 encourages wing-backs like Dimarco and Carlos Augusto to push high, which can pin Roma’s wide players back but also leaves space for counters. The midfield duel will be crucial: Cristante and de Roon versus Barella and Diouf, with Zieliński floating between the lines. Without Çalhanoğlu, Inter lose some set-piece quality and long-range shooting, placing even more importance on Diouf’s progressive passing and the link play of Lautaro and Esposito. Roma’s back three must track the movement of Inter’s front two while also stepping out to close down Diouf and Barella, and any hesitation could be punished given Inter’s strong scoring spell right after half-time.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Stats suggest a very finely balanced contest. The prediction model gives Roma just a 10% chance of winning, with the draw and Inter both at 45%, reflecting Inter’s slight edge in overall comparison indices (total index 53.0 vs 47.0) and a dominant Poisson index of 100 vs 0 in their favour. Head-to-head indices also lean Inter’s way (80 vs 20), underlining their recent superiority in this fixture.

However, the betting markets see this as almost a coin flip: Roma’s odds to win range from 2.34 to 2.77, implying roughly a 36–43% chance, while Inter’s odds between 2.50 and 2.72 imply around a 37–40% chance. The draw, priced between 3.10 and 3.50, carries an implied probability of roughly 28–32%. With predictions explicitly advising “Double chance: draw or Inter” and the winner tagged as Inter (win or draw), the safest angle is that the visitors avoid defeat. Given both sides’ attacking output and Inter’s more open defensive record, a score draw looks highly plausible.

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: Major sports pay-TV channel and leading streaming platform (check local listings)
• UK: Premium sports broadcaster and associated online streaming service
• USA / North America: National soccer-focused network and main subscription streaming app
• South America: Regional cable sports network and official league streaming partner
• MENA: Pan-regional satellite sports network and digital streaming platform