The top player in Italy this weekend is between number three Inter and number five AS Roma. Inter has a six point lead over Roma in the battle for the Champions League tickets. Given that the earlier match in Rome ended in a 2-2 tie, a 0-0 or 1-1 draw would also give Inter a better mutual result, at 2-2 the Milan team has the advantage of a much better goal difference.
Inter:
This year Inter seems to be a lot easier to qualify for the Champions League than last year. Then on the final day it defeated rival Lazio in a direct confrontation, only ten minutes before the end of the season did it secure a ticket for the million-dollar ball. Now it is in third place with a five-point lead over AC Milan and a better mutual result, and it also has a six-point lead over AS Roma that comes to visit today.
Last weekend, Inter had a relatively easy assignment with the almost as degraded Frosinone. The Milanese started with Stefan de Vrij in the base, the Dutchman has recovered from his injury. Inter had possession of the ball almost the entire match, but initially had a difficult time. After nineteen minutes, Radja Nainggolan got the first chance after a cross from Danilo D’Ambrosio, the Belgian headed the ball perfectly to the ground and into the net. Frosinone also had good chances, Paganini missed a free head chance four minutes later. Still, it was Inter that made the 0-2 from a penalty kick via Ivan Perisic before the break. Cassata made the 1-2 after half time on behalf of Frosinone, but the doctoral candidate did not come close to a draw, Matias Vecino scored the decisive 1-3 late in the game on indication of the favored Mauro Icardi who killed himself quite a few chances had helped in this competition.
AS Roma:
AS Roma is finally starting to succeed under coach Claudio Ranieri. The born Roman had a bad start with the team for which he played six times in his younger years. Under his leadership, he was successively lost to SPAL (2-1) and Napoli (1-4) and a draw against Fiorentina (2-2). The next two games were won with minimal numbers, leaving Roma only one point away from fourth place. Where the Giallorossi managed to keep only five clean sheets in 26 games under Eusebio di Francesco, this was now possible two games in a row, both at Sampdoria and at home against Udinese, 1-0 was won.
In the match against the Udine team last weekend, the likely departing Edin Dzeko turned out to be worth gold again. He scored the only goal given by Stephan El Shaarawy in a tough match for the Romans. The fans will hope to see more of the Bosnian, he did not score in the previous eight games and made his first goal against Udinese in Rome in 2019.
Shortly after Dzeko’s goal, there was only news for Ranieri. Daniele De Rossi staggered the field two minutes later and may have played his last games of the season. He is reported to have been on the side for at least three weeks with a thigh injury. The 35-year-old midfielder seems to remain Romanista for longer, and negotiations are planned for his new contract in June.
PREDICTION: Inter to win @ 1,80
