Inter in Good Form Face Serie A Title Challenge at Roma
Inter Milan face two crucial checks on their Serie A title aspirations in the coming fortnight, starting with their visit to Roma on Saturday evening, followed by an important match against Napoli a week later.
Under Cristian Chivu, Inter have secured five successive victories across all tournaments, yet their journey to the capital pits them against tough rivals who share the lead in Italys premier league alongside the reigning champions Napoli.
Roma have only let in two goals during their first six domestic games and sit on 15 points tied with Napoli at the summit.
Inter trail those two teams by three points, occupying fourth place after back to back league triumphs over Sassuolo, Cagliari, and Cremonese, edging out Juventus, who travel to in form Como on Sunday, thanks to superior goal difference.
Chivu is dealing with one key omission, as Marcus Thuram remains sidelined by the hamstring issue he sustained versus Slavia Prague last month.
However, he has a reliable alternative in fellow Frenchman Ange Yoan Bonny, who played a vital role in Inters latest success against Cremonese prior to the international window.
Moreover, skipper Lautaro Martinez returns invigorated from yet another scoring performance for Argentina, his two goals versus Puerto Rico bringing his combined club and international total this campaign to eight.
Thuram is aiming to feature in the upcoming Napoli encounter next weekend, by which point Inter will gauge their true Scudetto prospects.
Such ambitions might not have seemed assured when Inter appointed Chivu, whose sole prior top level coaching stint came in the closing stages of last term with Parma, succeeding Simone Inzaghi.
The ex Romania international defender was an unexpected pick for the Inter job and now faces a stern examination of his managerial skills against Gian Piero Gasperini, followed by Antonio Conte the subsequent week.
Roma have been fortunate to stay in the race with Napoli, with shot stopper Milar Svilar making several crucial interventions this term, enabling Gasperinis revamped squad to scrape through some substandard outings.
Napoli face what ought to be a routine assignment at Torino shortly before Inters trip to Roma, boosted by the anticipated comebacks from injury of compatriots Matteo Politano and Alessandro Buongiorno.
Sandwiched between Inter and the frontrunners are AC Milan, just two points off the lead going into Sundays game against bottom dwelling Fiorentina, who have failed to secure a Serie A victory this season and are missing Italy forward Moise Kean due to injury.
Milan must cope without Christian Pulisic and Adrien Rabiot, the latter potentially facing up to a month out with a calf complaint.
Player to watch: Rafael Leao
Formerly the standout performer at AC Milan, Leao has endured a rough initiation to the term, exacerbated by a calf ailment incurred right before the schedule began.
Nevertheless, the Portuguese wide man must elevate his game for Milan now that Pulisic has incurred a right hamstring knock, with the US player due for assessments on Friday.
Pulisic might miss a month after featuring in a pair of internationals despite an ankle concern, a scenario that has frustrated Milan given his six goals and two assists already this season.
Leao is poised for his debut league start of the campaign following underwhelming substitute appearances versus Napoli and Juventus, and manager Massimiliano Allegri requires the flair player to regain top form.
Key stats
5, Inters streak of victories since their narrow loss at Juventus last month.
2, The goals allowed by Roma across the initial six matchdays.
Fixtures (times GMT)
Saturday
Lecce v Sassuolo, Pisa v Verona (1300), Torino v Napoli (1600), Roma v Inter Milan (1845)
Sunday
Como v Juventus (1030), Cagliari v Bologna, Genoa v Parma (1300), Atalanta v Lazio (1600), AC Milan v Fiorentina (1845)
Monday
Cremonese v Udinese (1845)