Inter Milan were officially declared Serie A champions last weekend. However, perhaps the most surprising development last week was not Inter’s Scudetto win, but rather the news that Jose Mourinho would be coming back to Italy. The Portuguese will join the Giallorossi next season, who Inter happens to be playing in their next match.
There is a bit of peace and quiet in Rome at the moment. Once Jose Mourinho comes through the doors of the Stadio Olimpico, the tranquillity will give way to fireworks – at least that much is guaranteed.
Paulo Fonseca still has three games left in the Roma dugout. His side is currently seventh in the league table and a finish any higher at this point is unlikely. The Giallorossi’s race for the top four has been run, but there is still the possibility of them falling further down the table. Sassuolo are just two points behind them, although the Neroverdi could lose ground when facing Juventus midweek. For Roma, that match will be an opportunity to distance themselves from their closest chasers. However, their task is equally difficult, as a trip to champions Inter Milan beckons.
Jose Mourinho enjoyed the most successful years of his career at Inter. The Portuguese tactician won a historic treble with the Nerazzurri – a feat that no Italian club had achieved before them, nor have they since. Mourinho was in charge of the Milanese club when they won the league in 2010. They did not win another title until this year when Antonio Conte led them to victory.
On Wednesday, Mourinho’s former team will take on his future employers. Much of the focus is expected to be on him on Wednesday.
Key Players
Given that he led them to the Serie A title, Romelu Lukaku’s big-money move to Inter looks like a sound investment with each passing week. The Belgian was on the periphery of the team at Manchester United but has led the Nerazzurri to their first league title since 2010 from the front. He has scored 21 goals so far this season and is also the league’s joint-most assist provider with ten.
Antonio Conte has built his entire reputation on a system that employs three central defenders and a wingback on either side. Hence, the club needed to sign the players to fit his system. Achraf Hakimi was brought in from Real to fill the right wingback void and has excelled in his debut season in Italy. The Moroccan has seven goals and nine assists to his name across all competitions so far in his first season for Inter.
Borja Mayoral signed for AS Roma during the summer window in a low-profile loan deal. While he was largely expected to provide backup to Edin Dzeko, Mayoral has instead usurped the Bosnian as the team’s leading striker. The youngster has scored 17 times so far, including ten in the league. The Spaniard also has seven assists in all competitions, bringing his total goal contribution to 24 in 45 matches. It is no surprise then that Roma are trying to sign him permanently.
Lorenzo Pellegrini was one of Roma’s star performers in their Europa League semi-final exit against Manchester United. He offers the main creative threat for his side and has the numbers to back the same. The Italian has scored 11 times across all competitions this season and has registered nine assists. He will hope to lead his side to a morale-boosting win over the champions on Wednesday, with a derby against Lazio on the horizon.
Prediction
Inter Milan versus AS Roma will always be billed as a big match, but the stakes involved in the upcoming one are quite low. Inter have already secured the title, and so, they don’t need much from the match. Instead, Conte is likely to use the match as an opportunity to provide game time to the players who have been on the fringes of the first team. Players such as Andrea Pinamonti, Andrea Ranocchia, and Matias Veinco might start the match, with some of the key first-teamers instead on the bench.
For Roma, the prospect of playing in Europe’s top competition has all but vanished. Furthermore, the chances of them qualifying for the Europa League look slim too, with rivals Lazio currently occupying the final spot – six points ahead of them and with a game in hand. Paulo Fonseca’s focus will be on avoiding further embarrassment, instead.
The odds are on Inter to secure a win in this one. They are the team in form, and even their second-string side beat Sampdoria 5-1 on the weekend.
