Serie A Preview: Roma Entertain Inter at the Olimpico

Last season’s runners-up Roma has started a disastrous campaign and can now be found  in the lower regions of the table. Their opponents, on the other hand, are currently sharing the top with Lazio and Udinese and are hoping to shake of the chasing pack with a win.

ROMA

Roma, in their six league games so far, have been defeated in three of them, all on away trips. The international break has served the Giallorossi players well, however, and both Aquilani and Vucinic found the net in Azzuri’s midweek game.

The Giallorossi went down with only nine men in the last league game against Siena, as both Méxes and Panucci saw red. Both defenders will be serving out their ban leaving Spalletti to bring on Juan and Simone Loria as replacements to the duo in the much anticipated clash against Inter.

The team has had an alarming rate of injuries on the defensive players this season, that has seen the team concede as many goals as they have produced.

Roma has been missing Totti, whose start to the season has been spoilt by injuries. "Er Pupone" has only made three brief appearances this term and the captain’s absence has seen the innovation and creativity gone out of a very undisciplined Roma. The captain is now back in full training and is expected to make an appearance against Inter.

Both attacking full backs Cassetti and Tonetto are out injured and Cicinho and Riise are set to take their places on the right and left respectively.

Vucinic will take on the role of lone striker seeing it as Baptista is ruled out of the action as well.

Roma will be hoping to grab one point at the very least at the Stadio Olimpico, as another defeat would deepen the club’s crisis even further.

Roma (probable): Doni; Cicinho, Juan, Loria, Riise; De Rossi, Pizarro; Taddei, Aquilani, Perrotta; Vucinic

INTER

Inter are now equal on points with Lazio and Udinese under the guidance of the Special One. The Milano club goes into the game as favorites and it is widely believed that they are they only club that holds a squad with enough quality and depth to compete on all competitions—throughout the season.

Inter have been under much scrutiny lately due to their laborious style of play, but in the Nerazzuri's last game against Bologna one Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored what simply has to be the stunner of this season. The Sweden international’s acrobatic aerial back-heel flick may have looked lucky, but considering that this is not the first time "Ibracadabra" has scored this kind of goal (Euro 2004 against Italy) it was more flair than fluke.

Inter has confirmed that Nelson Rivas snapped the collateral ligament in his right knee against Bologna and will be out until the new year.

Adriano has made a successful comeback in the Nerazzuri shirt. The forward scored his first goal against Bologna after Ibrahimovic handed the penalty taking duties to the Brazilian. He then followed with another goal in the Selecãos 4-1 trashing of Venezuela.

Vieira finally stood for a good performance. The former Juventus man has failed to impress this season and has been given more than enough chances. Unfortunately he sustained an injury on his international duties with France and is, along with Figo, Maxwell and Jimenez, set to miss the game.

As a vast majority of the defensive players have been hit by injuries thus far into the term, Mourinho has had difficulties in fielding a permanent centre-back pair. The combination of players out of their natural positions and a lack of continuity at the back could very well count for the Nerazzuri’s inability to keep a clean sheet.

Inter (probable): Julio Cesar; Maicon, Cordoba, Burdisso, Zanetti; Mancini, Muntari, Cambiasso, Quaresma; Ibrahimovic, Adriano