Roma and Inter Milan meet at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday in an early Serie A title showdown between the only two teams with perfect league records.
Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma have taken 12 points from 12, scoring 12 goals and conceding only once. Donyell Malen struck again in last weekend's 2-0 victory at Torino, taking his league tally to six.
Defending champions Inter are level on points and lead the division's scoring chart with 13 goals. Cristian Chivu's side showed their attacking depth by recovering from 2-0 down to beat Udinese 5-3.
Roma vs Inter Milan: Key Stats
Roma and Inter have both won their opening four Serie A matches
Roma have scored 12 league goals while conceding only once
Inter own Serie A's best attack with 13 goals, but they have conceded six
Donyell Malen has scored six goals in Roma's first four league games
Inter won the most recent meeting 5-2 at San Siro in April
Photo Credit (Inter Milan)
What to Expect
Both teams use an aggressive defensive line, so the match should be shaped by pressing, fast combinations and the space behind the wing-backs. Roma can build through Bryan Cristante before releasing Paulo Dybala and Matias Soule around the in-form Malen.
Evan Ndicka and Wesley have returned to training and are expected to be available, giving Gasperini his strongest defensive and wide options. Nahuel Molina should provide width on the opposite flank, while Niccolo Pisilli is pushing to retain his place after scoring at Torino.
Inter should retain their 3-5-2, with Hakan Calhanoglu controlling the tempo and Nicolo Barella attacking the spaces around Roma's midfield. Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram remain the visitors' principal threats, supported by Federico Dimarco and Andy Diouf from wide areas.
John Stones is unlikely to feature after suffering a thigh injury against Udinese, so Manuel Akanji can anchor the back three. That reshuffle may leave Inter vulnerable against Malen's movement, although their own attacking depth gives Chivu several strong options from the bench.
Predicted Lineups
Roma (3-4-2-1)
Svilar; Mancini, Balerdi, Ndicka; Molina, Cristante, Pisilli, Wesley; Soule, Dybala; Malen
Inter Milan (3-5-2)
Martinez; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Diouf, Barella, Calhanoglu, Jones, Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Thuram
Players to Watch
Donyell Malen - Six goals in four league matches have made Malen the outstanding forward of Roma's perfect start. His acceleration and diagonal movement can expose the spaces around Inter's reshaped back three.
Paulo Dybala - Dybala created Malen's opener at Torino and continues to connect Roma's midfield with the final third. His close control and passing between the lines will be essential against Inter's compact central block.
Lautaro Martinez - Inter's captain scored twice when the Nerazzurri beat Roma 5-2 in April. His movement inside the penalty area and ability to press Roma's buildup make him the visitors' most complete attacking threat.
Marcus Thuram - Thuram scored during Inter's comeback against Udinese and offers the pace to attack behind Roma's high defensive line. His combinations with Lautaro can force Roma's outside centre-backs into difficult decisions.
Prediction
Prediction: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.63
Roma's defensive record is outstanding, but this is their strongest attacking test of the season. Inter have scored 13 times in four league games and overturned two-goal deficits against both Napoli and Udinese, while conceding six themselves.
Roma have scored three goals per league match and possess the pace to punish Inter's defensive reshuffle. The latest meeting produced seven goals, and another open contest is likely once either side breaks the deadlock. A 2-2 draw is the preferred scoreline.