Roma’s Unblemished Start
AS Roma has enjoyed a stellar start to their Serie A campaign, winning all four of their opening league games this season [1]. This impressive run includes a 2-1 victory against Atalanta [2], with late goals from Matias Soule and Mario Hermoso securing the points. The club finished third in Serie A last season and qualified for the Champions League in the 2025-26 season [3], demonstrating their consistent performance at the top level of Italian football. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar, who was named Serie A’s best goalkeeper for the last two seasons, has denied any discussions about a summer move to Juventus, reaffirming his commitment to Roma [4]. The team’s strong form sets the stage for a highly anticipated clash against Inter Milan, who have also maintained a perfect record in their opening four Serie A matches [3].
Malen’s Impact and Squad Depth
A significant factor in Roma’s recent success has been the exceptional form of Donyell Malen. Since joining Roma on January 18, Malen has been utilized almost exclusively as a striker and has delivered an outstanding return of 21 goals and 3 assists in just 25 matches [5]. His prolific scoring has been instrumental in the team’s attacking prowess. The squad also boasts international talent, with Bryan Cristante being one of six players from the EURO 2020 winning squad still part of the new Italy national team [6]. While Roma has invested significantly in transfers, spending €211m in fixed transfer fees since the summer of 2025 [3], their recent success highlights the effectiveness of these investments. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini is scheduled to hold a pre-match press conference today, indicating the importance of the upcoming fixture [1].
The Unbeaten Showdown
The upcoming Serie A Round 5 fixture pits two unbeaten teams against each other as AS Roma hosts Inter Milan. Both clubs have started their seasons with four consecutive victories, making this a crucial early-season encounter that could set the tone for their respective title aspirations [3]. While Roma has shown strong offensive capabilities, scoring 12 goals, their defense has also been solid, conceding only one goal in the league. The match will be a test of depth and strategy for both sides. Notably, Inter Milan will be without key players such as John Stones, Djed Spence, and Hakan Calhanoglu due to injuries and suspensions [7], which could influence the dynamics of the game. The stage is set for a captivating contest between two of Serie A’s top teams.
What it means
AS Roma currently sits at the top of the Serie A table with a perfect 12 points from four games, having scored 12 goals and conceded only one. Their recent form in the league is impeccable, with four wins in their last five matches across all competitions, including a 2-0 away victory against Torino FC and a 2-1 home win against Atalanta BC. The only slight blip was a 1-1 draw against Fenerbahçe SK in the Champions League. This strong start positions them as serious contenders early in the season. The next fixture is a significant home clash against Inter, who are also unbeaten. Our forecast predicts a challenging match for Roma, with Inter favored to win (40.0% chance) and a predicted score of 2-3, suggesting a high-scoring affair where Roma’s perfect league run could be tested.
Sources
- Football Italia: Chivu and Gasperini take different approaches to Roma vs. Inter football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Sixteen Roma fans banned from Italian stadiums over fascist salute football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Roma and Inter transfer spending compared as big Serie A clash looms football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Svilar: Roma star denies Juventus talks, Scudetto challenge with Inter ‘makes me smile’ football-italia.net ↩
- BBC Sport: How an Aston Villa fringe player became Europe's most prolific scorer bbc.co.uk ↩
- Football Italia: Only 6 Italy players remain from Mancini EURO 2020 triumph in new squad football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Scotland duo, Stones and Calhanoglu unavailable for Serie A Round 5: Full list football-italia.net ↩
