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AS Roma will look to continue their recent good form when they play host to fellow Serie A giants Inter Milan at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday. Coach Luciano Spalletti has overseen eight straight league wins since the end of January, and though it's almost certainly too little, too late for Roma to make a tilt at the title, spirits are certainly high on the red side of the capital.
Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the blue side of Milan, with Inter having had a pretty tough time of things over the last few months. They made a fine start to the season and surged to the Serie A summit, but between Christmas and the start of March they won just thrice in the league. It has left them down in a relatively disappointing fifth place, with the pressure continuing to mount on coach Roberto Mancini.
Key player: Mohamed Salah (AS Roma)
Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah -- who is Roma's top scorer with 11 goals in 25 Serie A appearances this season -- is perhaps the most frustratingly inconsistent footballer on the planet. There are days when he looks like he could walk into any team in the world, and others when he's just there to make up the numbers. Whether Roma manage to win this game could hinge on how good or bad Salah turns up at the Olimpico.
Recent history
Inter have generally tended to enjoy playing Roma in recent times, having won three of their last four meetings against the Giallorossi. However, they haven't won away against the Nerazzurri since 2008, when José Mourinho's side romped to a 4-0 victory over Spalletti's on their way to the Serie A title. Scoring twice that day happened to be a certain Zlatan Ibrahimović -- what would Inter do to have such a player in their ranks today?
AS Roma injuries and suspensions
Out: Ezequiel Ponce (knee). In doubt: Elio Capradossi (knee); Norbert Gyömber, Francesco Totti (trained separately).
Inter Milan injuries and suspensions
Out: Mauro Icardi (knee); Rodrigo Palacio (suspended). In doubt: Stevan Jovetić (calf).
Roma will certainly be without young striker Ponce, who is still sidelined with a long-term knee injury. Meanwhile, defenders Capradossi and Gyömber, and striker Totti face late fitness tests.
All of Inter's problems come in attack: they're without strikers Icardi and Palacio through injury and suspension respectively, while fellow forward Jovetić will need to recover from a calf problem if he's to be involved.
Match date/time: Saturday, 3:45 p.m. ET, 8:45 p.m. local
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: beIN Sports (US and Canada); BT Sport Europe (UK)
Online: beIN Sports Connect (US and Canada); fuboTV (US); BT Sport live streaming (U.K.)